Before making a new list of goals, you might like to pause and look back. Which moments do you want to remember? What would you like to leave behind?
This reflection first appeared at the end of 2012. The questions can be used in any year, and there is no need to wait for New Year's Eve.
Begin with the moments you remember
Take a blank page and write a few notes. They do not need to form a complete account of the year.
You might include:
- A conversation that stayed with you.
- A meal, outing or ordinary day you enjoyed.
- Something you made, learned or finished.
- Someone whose support mattered.
- A moment when you felt able to rest.
Small memories belong on the page too. You do not have to turn them into achievements.
Leave room for a difficult year
If the year included grief, illness or disappointment, you can acknowledge that without looking for a lesson. You may want to skip a prompt, stop writing or return another day.
Feeling grateful and finding things hard can be part of the same reflection. This exercise does not require you to feel positive or make sense of everything that happened.
If you feel persistently overwhelmed, speak with your GP or a mental health professional. Personal reflection is not a replacement for support. Healthdirect — Stress.
Choose what to carry forward
Is there a person you would like to thank, a routine you want to keep or a commitment you want to reconsider? Choose one next step if it feels useful.
Our goals article offers practical planning questions. You can also read making time for meaningful connections for ways to stay in touch.
For questions about meals and everyday routines, the clinic lists an initial naturopathy consultation with dietary and lifestyle review. It does not provide the mental health assessment described above. Melbourne Wellness — Services.
Discuss suitability at a consultation.
Sources
Read 15 October 2026. Clinical sources support the adjacent general information; clinic links verify the advertised appointment menu.
- Healthdirect — Stress — Australian public-health guidance; accessed 2026-10-15.
- Melbourne Wellness — Services — current clinic facts; accessed 2026-10-15.
