Do you find that your days, weeks and months are running together so much that you barely can keep up? I used to compare it to being on a merry-go-round that never seemed to stop. With this pace, it becomes a challenge to make sure that you are focusing on the right things. Some people like to take time before leaving work or before they go to bed to plan out their next day. If it becomes too long of a process, it can get pushed off. I found this article that talks about 4 Questions to Ask Yourself at the End of Every Workday by Kat Boogaard. She makes the case for just asking yourself these simple questions to have some quick reflection without adding a lot of time and complexity.
- What went well for me today?
- What can I improve tomorrow?
- What’s the first thing I want to do tomorrow morning?
- What was my favorite part of today?
The first three questions are pretty common, but the last one is probably one of the most impactful. In general, we all have a tendency to see the things that didn’t go well or to be critical of ourselves. Even in a day that had many issues, there is always at least one thing that you can pick out to name as your favorite part of the day. The favorite song you heard on the way to work, the big hug your kids gave you before you left, the favorite drink you grabbed at the coffee shop, the compliment someone paid you on what you were wearing, etc. It doesn’t have to even be something from work, but just to find at least one positive thing in your day that made you smile.
What I love about these questions is that you can think about them on your way home from work or right before you go to sleep. They are all positive ways to think about your day and your plan for tomorrow. Answering these questions will help you to step off the merry-go-round for a few minutes to think about what went well and what you want to focus on before you get back on the next day. Take the time to enjoy the moment.