Each day, time passes, and I want to help you make the most of it. You are headed somewhere, whether you realize it or not.
Are your actions taking you where you want to go?
We all take action every day. Even inaction is an action.
There is often a HUGE difference between where you intend to go in your future and where you’re actually headed.
If the actions you take or don’t take do not move you toward the life you imagine for yourself, you are headed in the wrong direction.
Have you ever thought about what you want your life to look like 5 or 10 years from now?
Time moves so quickly. Don’t let it pass you by.
Decide what kind of life you want to live. Know your priorities. Set goals. Plan your days accordingly.
These are the first steps toward living a life of purpose and making a positive impact on the people in your life.
Notice I said the first steps.
If you want to continue to grow, you have to tend to your garden even when it seems there’s nothing in bloom.
You want to keep track of your progress, so you can make adjustments and remind yourself of how far you’ve come.
This applies to monthly planning, productivity, and goal-setting – all of it.
Questions to ask yourself at the end of each month
If you let too much time go by without checking in, you will get too far off track.
Below are eight questions to ask yourself at the end of each month. These questions will clue you into what’s working well and what isn’t.
Answer these questions on a monthly basis to determine what you might need to change moving forward.
1 // What did I learn?
Look back over your calendar or planner and review what happened throughout the previous month.
Evaluate your schedule – was it extra busy, normal, or slow? How many items did you cross off your to-do list? Did you do the things you set out to do?
Think of the big picture and take note of what you learned when you look at the month as a whole.
2 // What was my biggest accomplishment?
This is a great question to ask because it will remind you of your wins, even if everything didn’t go according to plan.
This could be anything from finishing a big project at work, implementing a new morning routine, or spending more quality time with your kids.
Focus on what went well for you last month. Celebrate your achievements, big and small.
3 // What am I spending too much time on?
Distractions are inevitable and we usually use them as a way to avoid discomfort.
If a task feels too overwhelming, it’s easy to distract yourself with something else.
This question could also refer to mindset. You might be spending too much time worrying about what others think of you.
Whatever it is, you need to identify it, so you can move forward without allowing it to hold you back.
4 // What am I spending too little time on?
On the flip side, you also need to pay attention to what you spent too little time on last month.
This will show you where you fall short and give you insight into what you need to focus on next month.
Do you know what your priorities are? Are you making time for them?
If not, you will end up feeling unfulfilled at the end of the month. The goal is to know you spent your time in the best way possible.
5 // What didn’t go to plan?
You finally took the time to plan ahead and then you got sick.
Or maybe you stopped eating healthy and your energy levels tanked right along with your productivity.
These things happen. Some of them are outside of our control and some are not.
Awareness is key, so be honest with yourself about why your plans fell through.
6 // How can I improve what didn’t work?
Look at your answer to the last question and use it as a starting point for this one.
What obstacles did you face last month, and how can you plan ahead for such obstacles in the future?
Think of everything you can that might stand in the way of your plans and decide what you will do ahead of time.
What will you do if your kid gets sick?
What will you do if your best friend invites you to have coffee?
What will you do if you lack motivation?
Make a plan for how you will respond better next time.
7 // What is holding me back?
This is typically a mindset issue, although it’s more common to blame your circumstances.
Your circumstance is neutral and you can make it mean whatever you want. How you think about your circumstance will determine how you feel about it.
Your feelings will cause you to act in a certain way, and your actions lead to your results.
Become aware of what thoughts are holding you back and learn to flip the script.
Once you master this concept, your life will change.
8 // What do I want to achieve next month?
Now that you have a clear picture of where you are with your goals and your level of productivity, you can plan for the next month.
Decide what needs to happen to get you where you want to go. List out your goals for the upcoming month.
Write them in your calendar and put them on your schedule. Create a plan of action.
Keep them where you can see them and remind yourself of what you are working toward every day.
Now, it’s your turn
It is so important to check in with yourself on a monthly basis to ensure that you don’t lose sight of what matters to you.
Make an effort to spend more time on the things that make life worth living by asking yourself the following questions at the end of each month:
- What did you learn?
- What was your greatest accomplishment?
- What are you spending too little time on?
- What are you spending too much time on?
- What didn’t go to plan?
- How can you improve what didn’t work?
- What is holding you back?
- What do you want to achieve next month?
I promise you will not regret taking the time to do this at the end of the month.
Answering these questions will allow you to go into the next month with a plan and a purpose.
As time goes on, you can look back at your answers and see how much you’ve grown and how far you’ve come.
A monthly check-in will help you stick to your plans and reach your goals.
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