Tick tock, tick tock...

Do you know the popular English nursery rhyme, Hickory Dickory Dock, in which the mouse ran up the clock and then ran down when the clock struck one? Don't ask me why he scurried back down! The 'Tick tock, tick tock' chorus of the rhyme, however, reminds me of the fact that this year is hurtling towards its finish line on New Year's Eve. As the year 2019 draws to a close, it is a good time to pause and take stock.  This time of year is the perfect time for reflection - looking back over the past twelve months - and for looking ahead to the New Year.

Looking Back

How has the year 2019 been for you? What are some of its highlights? What are you most proud of?  Looking back at the key events and activities in your life this past year will help you to put things in perspective.

I keep a journal. I've done this for many years, thanks to my 'Big Sis' who gave me my very first journal as a gift while I was pregnant with my firstborn child (he's now an undergraduate!). She encouraged me to write down my hopes and aspirations for my unborn child, which I did. I also wrote down a list of potential names for our baby. I'll tell you now that that list got revised over and over again, as my husband and I discussed, negotiated and yes, sometimes, argued about boy and girl names! I have since developed my habit of journaling over the years and it has certainly evolved. The frequency and focus of my journal entries fluctuate as I go through different seasons in my life. 

The great thing about journaling is that YOU decide what you want to journal about and how much detail you include. For me, I have noticed two things which have been consistent in my journals:

• Dates: I date everything I write in my journals. Looking back over my journals, this has given me a real sense of what 'season' I was in at certain periods in my life. 
  

• Gratitude: With each entry, I write down something I am thankful for, even when the circumstances have not been the best. In addition to this, at the back of my journal every month, I summarise the things I am grateful for in a list.  I call them my CMBs (Count My Blessings) of that month. Some months, the list is fairly long and other months, it's just two or three bullet points, but I always have blessings to be thankful for. 

Planning Ahead

What are your plans for 2020? Do you, like a large number of other people around the world, make a New Year's Resolution to lose weight, starting from early January after the period of over-indulgence at Christmastime? Or do your plans for 2020 include taking up a new sport or hobby? Are you going to make a conscious effort to reach out to people more? Are there improvements you wish to make next year based on the happenings of this year? 

In late December each year, I also draft my GHDs (Goals, Hopes and Dreams) for the upcoming year in my journal. This is usually a list of specific short-term and longer term goals and objectives that I have. I try to make them SMART objectives as best I can and I 'CMB' against these as the year progresses. One of my goals for 2020 is to regularly give blood (I just need to work out what 'regularly' means). There are several proven benefits of journaling, including stress management and increased self-awareness. If you think journaling is something you would like to try, I'd recommend that you try gratitude journaling in the first instance and then develop it from there. As always, I'd love to hear from you! Do contact me with any feedback you have on your experiences with journaling, CMBs, GHDs etc.

My very best wishes to you and your family for the festive season! Have fun, count your blessings and plan for a fruitful 2020.