Something I like to do every month is look back at any goals I’ve set myself for that month. Whether these goals relate to larger life resolutions/goals, smaller monthly goals or my monthly intentions I had shared at the start of the month, I love checking in on them.
This habit is so important to me because it allows me to reflect on what I have achieved that month and also what needs more of my focus. Sometimes I am shocked at how much progress I’ve made and other months I am aware that I’ve gone off track slightly. However, doing this allows me to step into the following month more positively.
I start by writing down my goals I had set for myself when the month began. Then I like to look back at each goal and ask myself ‘Did I achieve this? Did I work towards this? Or have I completely lost track?’.
If I notice I haven’t achieved something I wanted to, I try and look deeper at why. Could I have made that goal more realistic? Did I try too hard too soon? Asking myself these questions (about what motivates me and what can sometimes hinder me) always gives me great insight for the following month.
How to Finish The Month with No Regrets (8 Tips)
1. Take a Look at How You Managed Your Time
If you really want to finish the month strong with no regrets, analysing your time management is a great place to start. Looking back on how you’ve spent your days throughout the month can give you great insight into what you want to improve on or change. Try tracking your time for a week to see where your hours are going. You may realise that you spend way too much time scrolling on social media or in meetings, leaving you with no time to work on the things that really matter to you.
Try implementing a time log. You can keep this in your notebook or use a digital time tracking application on your phone or computer. Make a note of the tasks you complete each hour and then time how long it takes you to complete them. At the end of the week, analyse your time log to see if you notice any patterns. Maybe you spend too much time on activities that don’t align with your priorities or you’ve pinpointed time-draining habits that you can cut down on.
Social media scrolling, unproductive meetings, and not setting boundaries are all big time sucks. Once you know where your time goes, try using tools to keep you focused and on track. Use a planner to write out your tasks and goals for the month. Set reminders on your phone or computer to hold you accountable. And make sure to leave time for breaks!
Read Also: 10 Productivity Hacks for Effective Time Management
2. Celebrate Your Small Wins
When thinking about your goals and progress, you may only look at the big milestones. But celebrating small wins is important too and can really impact your well-being and motivation. Sure, they may be small and easy to brush over but little wins add up and are what allow you to reach those larger goals. Acknowledging your small wins will allow you to feel proud of everything you accomplished that month.
Make a list of some small wins you’ve had recently. They can be work or personal related. Maybe you finished a project you’ve been working on for weeks or you’ve stayed consistent with a workout routine. Small wins can be anything that helped you grow as a person.
When you finish the month, celebrate those wins however you want to. Share your achievements with friends or family. Allow yourself a treat. Or simply take a moment to breathe and appreciate everything you did that month.
Read also: 34 Fun Ways to Spend Time with Friends
3. Reflect on the Lessons You Learned
At the end of every month, I like to think about what I’ve learned. Overtime I have come to realise that every situation you experience teaches you a lesson. Maybe you struggled with a work project that taught you to be more patient. Or maybe you had a huge success that taught you how important consistency is to you. Write down some of the biggest lessons you learned this month.
You can also turn your regrets into lessons. For example, if you have any regrets about not resting enough, make it your goal to schedule more time for relaxation this month. Taking care of your mental health through self-care, hobbies, and meditation will better your wellbeing and you’ll never have that regret again. Learn from your mistakes and bring those lessons into the new month.
Read also: 150 Self-Reflection Questions for Personal Growth
4. Forgiveness
When thinking about your month, you may experience some feelings of regret. Something we haven’t touched on yet is how to forgive yourself when you experience those feelings. At the end of the month, take time to reflect on these regrets and forgive yourself for any mistakes you made.
Practice forgiveness with yourself by treating yourself how you would treat a friend. You wouldn’t spend hours dwelling on things your friend did wrong. Instead, you would encourage them and help them think of solutions. Applying this mindset to your own mistakes will allow you to let go of those feelings of regret.
Pair your forgiveness with compassion. Allow yourself to feel those feelings of sadness or disappointment, but then treat yourself with kind words and encouragement. You can practice this by writing down your feelings in a journal or talking it out with someone you trust. Reflecting on your month will allow you to leave those negatives feelings behind and step into the next month feeling rejuvenated.
5. Create intentions for the month ahead
Use what you learned from reflecting on the month to create intentions for the month ahead. Intentions are different from goals because they act as guidelines on how you want to show up that month. Instead of setting one specific thing you want to accomplish, think about the type of month you wish to have.
You can start by thinking about what you noticed about yourself this month. Did you realise you needed more structure or more relaxation? Maybe you want to focus on your creativity this month. Use these observations to help you create intentions for the month. Instead of saying ‘I want to be more productive’, say ‘I will focus on my three main tasks each morning and give them my undivided attention.’
Another trick I love is visualising what your ideal month would look and feel like. Imagine what your new routine will look like. Picture yourself having small victories each day and taking the needed time to rest.
6. Create a Month Recap
Recap the month by journaling about the events you experienced, lessons you learned, and how you grew as a person. You can break up your recap into categories such as highlights from the month, lessons I learned, and what my next steps are.
If writing isn’t your thing, create a visual month recap. You can create mood boards, make a collage of photos from the month, or make a month recap timeline. Get creative and add in quotes, symbols, or doodles that remind you of memorable moments.
7. Stay Accountable
Starting a new month is all about taking action towards your goals. But how will you stay accountable for your goals? My favourite way to stay accountable is by finding an accountability partner. Pairing up with a friend, family member, or coworker with similar goals allows you to check in with each other. You can both give each other support, motivation, and even constructive criticism. Having someone to talk too about your goals and progress will make you more likely to stay on track.
You can even use social media to stay accountable! Make yourself accountable to others by sharing your goals and monthly progress. You will naturally want to follow through on your goals because you’re putting yourself out there. Also, try following others who share the same goals as you. By doing this you are creating a positive support system for yourself.
Seek out local groups, virtual workshops, or meetups that you can attend. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people will keep you committed to your goals and provide you with new ideas when you encounter obstacles. Find what methods of accountability work for you and that you enjoy. Remember you can always change your methods if they no longer feel right.
8. Embrace The Transition
The end of the month is also a new beginning. No matter what happened this month, you are moving forward into a new month. A great way to embrace this transition is by recognising what you’re taking with you and what you’re leaving behind. Transition can be scary, but if you approach it with curiosity and excitement you can view it as a positive change.
Look back on everything you achieved, obstacles you faced, and lessons you learned. Use that information to set clear intentions for the month ahead. Visualise what you want the next month to look and feel like. This will allow you to move into these next couple of months with intention.
Let go of the habits, responsibilities, and expectations that no longer serve you. Exit this month with gratitude in your heart and excitement for what’s to come. Step into these next few months with confidence and enthusiasm.
Conclusion
There you have it! Finishing your month strong doesn’t have to be complicated. Reflect on the good and the bad, celebrate how far you’ve come, learn from your mistakes, and set intentions that will better your life for the month ahead. Reach out for support, hold yourself accountable, and forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned.
Grab one of the tips above and pencil it into your day. Sometimes taking that first step is what causes you to take action on the other tasks. If you go through the end of your month with consciousness and love for yourself, you’ll enter your following month with no regrets.
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