Whether or not you typically set goals, intentions, or resolutions for the new year, reflecting on the past year is essential for growth. As we approach the end of 2025, these final weeks are the perfect time to pause, take stock, and prepare for the next chapter in your career.
Meaningful reflection helps you recognize growth, celebrate achievements, and set purposeful goals. Here are several questions to ask yourself before stepping into 2026.
Assess Achievements and Growth
This is the ideal starting point for your reflection. Ask yourself these key questions:
- What were your biggest accomplishments this year?
- Where did you grow professionally?
- Were there any unexpected wins or surprises?
Reflecting on both large milestones and small wins gives a full picture of your professional progress and lays a solid foundation for 2026.
Examine Challenges and Lessons Learned
Facing what you struggled with and challenges you overcame is just as important, if not more so, than wins. Consider:
- What challenges did you face?
- What didn’t go as planned, and why?
- What would you have done differently if given the chance?
Understanding struggles helps develop resilience and informs smarter decision-making for the future. Growth is not always positive. Adapting to change and viewing challenges as opportunities for learning is a win in itself!
Explore Opportunities and Aspirations for 2026
Take a step back and review all your answers to the questions above. Your collective insights should begin to take shape and help you visualize your direction for next year:
- What new skills or projects would you like to explore?
- Which areas of your career do you want to prioritize?
- Are there opportunities for growth you may have overlooked?
Setting intentions based on reflection creates a roadmap for a more fulfilling career. From here, you can start to set measurable and achievable goals.
Reflect on Personal Growth and Alignment
Your professional life is not separate from your personal life. Any goals you set should ensure that you are fulfilled in all aspects of your life. Ask yourself:
- How have your values or priorities shifted this year?
- Are you fulfilled in your current role?
- Does your career align with your life goals?
Career reflection isn’t just about professional wins; it’s about ensuring your work supports your overall well-being and purpose.
Action Steps
Once you’ve gone through the reflection exercise:
- Combine and analyze your insights from achievements, challenges, and personal growth, then identify common themes
- Create a list of concrete intentions for 2026 and steps to achieve them
- Map out your action items and check in quarterly to assess your progress and make adjustments as needed
Remember, growth is not linear. As you approach this new year, we encourage you to embrace both your successes and setbacks as learning opportunities. Whether you have one large goal for the year or a bunch of little ones, use this reflection to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and focus.
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