The Best Method to Reset & Reflect on the Past Year to Increase Your Results

It’s the end of another year, and while it was a rough one in many ways, you feel like there are some positive takeaways and reflect on the past year.

However, you’re also feeling like something is missing or that maybe things haven’t gone as well as they could have this past year. You’re ready to make changes for your future self!

This guide will help you reflect on all that has happened over the last 365 days and how it can be used to create a more peaceful life moving forward.

I’ve learned so much about myself from this past year- both good and bad- but I’m grateful for everything because now I know what really matters most to me.

My hope is that after reading this end of year reflection guide below, you’ll find peace within yourself too, and create a clean slate!

Reflect on the Past Year

The end of the year is a good opportunity to reflect on what went well and what could have been improved. It’s also the perfect opportunity to make some changes for a positive impact on your own life.

This past year has been an intense one in many ways, but you learn more about yourself and how you want your life to be moving forward in those moments.

I think we can all agree that these last two years or so have been a stressful one in terms of the world events happening around us- from quarantine, spiritual awakings, seeking meaning, wanting a more fulfilling life, and more.

This season has shown us how important it is to have a sense of peace within ourselves, both mentally and physically. It’s not always easy to find this space when there are so many distractions and a constant need to keep up with what’s going on outside of us.

But let me tell you this: you are so loved. And it’s not just from people around you- It comes from within yourself as well. Now is the time to tap into that love, and focus on your inner peace, personal life, and lessons.

This post will outline some of the best ways to reflect, regroup and reset before the new year.

Journal Prompts Reflection Questions For 2021

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Disclosure

journal your thoughts out black woman writing in a journal

Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal development. In moments of uncertainty, journaling provides a way to stay grounded as well as gain some clarity on what you want from your future.

Journal prompts are an easy way to get started with journaling because they provide you with questions that can help guide your thoughts and feelings about important life events or experiences.

They can also be used to explore different aspects of yourself—things like how you see the world around you, who you are in relationships, and what makes up your values system.

Here are a few journal prompts for the end of the year reflection.

Write a List of 11 Things in Each Section

1111 is a positive number. Angel number 1111 suggests that you are ready to release the past while preparing for a new beginning. Continues to listen well and trust your intuition. Make sure to maintain balance in your life. This will help you make correct decisions.

Journal about what happened in the past year that you are grateful for.

write a list of things you’re grateful for

11 things you’re thankful for.

Gratitude has the power to create more meaning and happiness in your life. When you are grateful, you feel more connected to the world, and therefore have a greater sense of purpose in your life.

Spend time making a list of what you are grateful for. When you feel disconnected or unhappy refocus on all that you have to be grateful for, not focusing on the negative things in life.

Forgive yourself and others free yourself from the past hurt.

Check-in with Yourself

Most of us have a lot going on in our lives. There is so much to do and it can be easy to lose sight of what’s most important. One way that might help is to set aside time each day as a reminder to check-in with yourself. Also, check in with your emotions, mental health as well as your physical state.

Think about how you are feeling during this time.

Do you feel overwhelmed?
Are there specific things that are causing the stress?
What types of activities give you energy?
How do these compare to those that deplete your energy?
Identify two or three things you can do each day to self-check-in and become more self-aware.

List things that you want to Manifest. Make it Realistic & Specific!

write 11 things you want to manifest

Journal 11 things you want to manifest for 2022.

Manifesting is the process of bringing something into reality by focusing on it. It’s not magic or wishing for things to happen, but rather a way of using your thought power and imagination to make what you want to come true. Manifestation is all about what you believe and feel deep down in your gut.

Believe that what you want can happen
Be specific
Take action
Stay focused
Ask yourself “does this feel good?”
Trust
Keep at it
Expect the best
Visualize
Don’t give up
Keep practicing!

When you write down your goals and dreams, you’re putting energy into them and making them more real. When you see them in black and white, you’re more likely to take action towards making them a reality.

Not only that, but journaling is a great way to track your progress and celebrate your accomplishments.

It can be really motivating to look back on all the things you’ve accomplished in the past- especially if you didn’t think it was possible.

So, start by writing down your goals for the new year. Be as specific as possible and make sure to include both short-term and long-term goals.

Then, every time you achieve a goal, mark it off your list!

Journal things you want to let go

You can’t manifest what you want if you are holding onto things that no longer serve your purpose.

The more baggage you carry, the less space there is for new opportunities. It’s time to let go of old habits, relationships, and beliefs that may be blocking your path to happiness.

List 11 things you want to let go

Here are some journal prompts examples for letting go:

I want to let go the fear of …. [being vulnerable, being seen, failure, success, etc]

I want to release the anger toward …. [person, self, past, etc]

I will let go control over…. [ money, relationships, emotions, etc]

I will no longer…. [ say yes to things I don’t want to do, put myself last, etc]

I will let go of… [ being closed-minded and let in growth, thinking small, people, job]

I want to let go of…. [worrying, overthinking, bad habits]

I want to release…. [anger, guilt]

I will let go of…. [feeling inadequate]

What I am letting go of is…

I will embrace the coming year …. instead.

Once you’ve identified the things that no longer serve your purpose and put them on a list it’s time to take action.

Release these limiting beliefs

a woman with her hand touching sun rays you are magical

Some ways you can release these limiting beliefs are:

1. Get clear on what you want to manifest out of this letting-go process. What is the next step that needs to be taken for your life to feel more fulfilled?

2. Release them one at a time, beginning with the easiest things (the ones that don’t cause you much pain) and gradually moving toward the more difficult.

3. Write yourself a letter on a blank piece of paper about why you are letting go of this belief or habit, and then burn it!

4. When emotions come up, don’t hold onto them. Express them in a way that will purge your body of the energy associated with that particular issue, whether it be through writing, running, dancing, or a yoga class!

5. Remember to be gentle with yourself. Focus on what you want and not what you don’t want in your life anymore. The more positive energy you put out there, the better it will manifest itself in your life.

Now that you’ve let go of allllll this extra baggage, it’s time to take a step forward in your life and explore new options.

Learn something new!

When we stop learning, we allow ourselves to become stagnant and closed off from opportunities that would otherwise improve our lives.

Next, do a mindful reset where you reflect & release.

Reset your Home.

One of the best ways to reset your home is to perform a mindful reset.

Basically, you reset your home by cleansing it energetically. This can be done through sage burning, visualization, or using crystals.

The first thing I recommend is looking around your environment and making time for a mindful reset.

Mindfulness is all about being present and conscious of your thoughts, emotions, situations, and environments. In other words, it’s a way to slow down and take inventory of the spaces that you occupy most frequently.

For me, both physical objects and relationships trigger stress and overwhelm. I’m always thinking about ways to let go of any physical clutter and toxic relationships in my life.

For instance, I cleaned up my room, removed the items holding me back, and added positivity.

Stenciled Wallpaper: How to Get the Look without Breaking the Bank

I decorated my walls to remind me of the things that bring joy to my life.
I turned on an essential oil diffuser in my room with a lemon and orange scent.
I rearranged the furniture in every area to bring fresh energy into the house and stimulate positive energy.
Opened all of our windows to remove stale air
and decluttered my nightstand to free up mental space when I sleep
Deep cleaning the home
Saged my home to cleanse the energy. Sage your home for new beginnings.
Threw away items that we no longer need or used.
Brought crystals for protection and balance ( I’m a crystal lover).

several crystal use to bring love and cleanse

I know everything I did won’t resonate with you, and that’s ok be your own powerful woman and find things true to you!

I encourage you to take 5 minutes every day to release your stress and find harmony throughout the home.

I am a true fan of natural products and what Grove Collaborative has in their online store.

Reset the Body

We need to spend more time thinking about the things we consume. I am not a health guru, but I have a daughter with severe eczema, which pushed my family to a more natural lifestyle. The benefits have been amazing for my energy and reducing flare-up of my autoimmune disease.

Next, do a mindful reset where you reflect and release.

I recommend going on a walk around your neighborhood.

If you’re unsure how to do a mindful reset, start by taking a deep breath and then focus on the sounds you hear, what’s around you, and what’s going on with your body.

If your looking for a simple and easy way to get started and stay on a healthy path then Noom has a free trail so take advantage of it!

Here are some tips to help you reset your body:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat nutritious foods.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Get enough sleep.
5. Reduce stress levels.
6. Reduce refined sugar intake.

Release the Mind + Home of Mental Clutter

What is mental clutter?

Mental clutter is a type of disorganization that can refer to anything that takes up space in your mind and prevents you from concentrating or thinking clearly. This can include unresolved emotions, stressful thoughts, unfinished tasks, and other distractions.

I left my job in October, and it was a lot of residual mental connections attached to the job.

I had to clear my thoughts and release any anger or thoughts of “what if” because it wasn’t beneficial to my growth.

Instead, I had to remove things from the home that didn’t represent my positive energy and speak life into it.

Importance of Mental Release Self Reflection

The importance of mental release is that it allows us to let go of the past and move on to the future. It allows us to free up our thoughts and emotions so that we can be present. It also enables us to create space for new opportunities and experiences.

You can also release through prayer, meditation, and going through your home for things that don’t align with your future self ( do you have items that belong to someone… you need to move on and let it go)

Year reflection questions for Mental Clutter

Ask yourself these questions and take some time to really think about the answers. This will help you release emotional and mental clutter.

How did the year make you feel?
What were your biggest accomplishments this year?
What were your biggest challenges this year?
Who was the most influential person in your life this year and why?
What do you want to accomplish next year?
How can you take action towards those goals now?
What trigger you the most emotionally this year?
What aspects of yourself are you most proud of?

In addition, consider these questions from Lissa Rankin from her book Mind Over Medicine: “What have I been thinking about today? What have I been feeling? What have I been sensing?”

When I’m feeling overwhelmed by my emotions or thoughts, one of the best things that I can do for myself is journaling it out. This can be a physical journal or an online journal.

I recommend using a day planner to keep all of your thoughts in one location.

There are many positive benefits that come with journaling your year, including finding clarity and discovering insights about what has influenced you or where you want to go.

I recommend the app Headspace to get over stories holding you back and develop positive lifestyles easily.

Reflect YOU, Mama

As a mom, it can be hard to take time for self-care. But I’ve found that the benefits are so worth it!

The truth is, many of us have trouble prioritizing our needs and taking the necessary time out for ourselves. We become so caught up in providing for others that we forget about what we need or want.

When this happens too often, we’re left feeling drained and unfulfilled—and not just by motherhood!

This leads to burnout and resentment over all the things you put on hold while tending to others: your career goals, personal desires, or relationships with friends and family members.

Keeping these types of things on hold will only lead to resentment—and that’s no good for anyone.

What’s important to you?

family core values a picture of darla and husband at the beach

Redefine your core values and live your life according to them:

This year, I started paying attention to what values truly mattered to me.

I decided that I wanted to live by the core value of authenticity, which meant that I needed to start putting myself out there (blogging, actually having conversations with people) and stop putting myself down.

I also wanted to embrace more of my gift, so I started meditating more and not being afraid to shine.

By living out loud, I was able to find happiness in the simplest of things.

For example, I started focusing on the positive aspects of my life each day instead of looking at all the things I had to do.

This has helped me feel more fulfilled and happy with my life—and, as a result, I’ve felt less stressed because happiness is contagious!

It’s important to note that living by your core values doesn’t mean you’re selfish.

Quite the opposite actually!

By taking care of yourself—reading, writing, exercising, or whatever else makes you happy—you’ll be in a better place to help others.

You’ll have more energy and feel happier overall. And when you give back to your world, you’re not giving something that could’ve been yours anyway! You’re sharing that which makes up who you are.

What are your life goals?

vision board template to create a positive new year

Reflect on your goal and make sure they are aligned with the new you and future you.

Your goals should be realistic and reachable—but don’t shy away from thinking big.

Write them down somewhere where you can see them often (I like to write mine on post-it notes and place them around my work area).

By taking the time to really reflect on your year, you’ll gain insight into what went well or what could have gone better.

You’ll also have a clearer idea of what you want for your future—and how to achieve it!

Now, take some time out for yourself and set new goals that will help you do just that!

What can you do now to reach those goals?

This is the most important part of the process!

Look at your schedule and add more YOU time. It can be as simple as a few minutes of journaling or meditation.

Schedule it and put it in your day planner!

Make a commitment to yourself.

You won’t regret it!

Love yourself a little extra you deserve it.

Here are a few blog articles to get you started:

How to be More Productive: Top 10 Tips to Help Busy Moms

How to be more productive mom (even when you’re exhausted)

Daily Schedule of 21 Working Mom Routines (+side hustles tips)

What’s next for 2022?

Now you can prepare for the upcoming year.

There are lots of things you can do now to start preparing for it.

You can set goals, create vision boards and make a more effective to-do list.

If this is your first time setting up these types of systems, it may be helpful to take some extra steps in order to get into the right mindset before tackling them head-on.

It’s important that you find what works best for you when it comes down to goal setting—whether it’s a mom planner or day blocking planner

You will have more clarity to tackle the things important to you.

Like setting goals
making vision boards
making an effective todo list
developing new habits
reinventing yourself
developing your keys to success
following your passion.

Not to mention you will feel more confident in your decisions.

A new perspective, new you,

Be ready to take on whatever is thrown at you!

Get Free Guide

Final Thoughts to Reset, Release and Reflect on the Past Year

It’s the time of year to take a step back, reflect on what has gone well and not so well this past year, set some new goals, and reset.

Reflecting is important because it helps us identify our values and find happiness in simple things like our kids and waking up in the morning (or whatever else makes you happy).

The best way to make sure we’re always striving towards those goals we’ve identified is by setting concrete plans with deadlines – which is why scheduling something as small as 15 minutes of reading into your day planner can go such a long way.

You deserve it! Going through these steps now will help ensure that when 2022 rolls around, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenges head-on; confident in yourself and everything.

Be aware of your body (listen to it), and what triggers you emotionally, and take inventory of the things that don’t align with your future self.

What will you let go of this year?

Don’t forget your guide –>> Yes, I need to Reset