At GIG, we believe that self-reflection is a powerful skill to develop and an essential tool in improving your life. With the end of the year around the corner, it's a great time to reflect on what you have accomplished during the last 12 months, as well as things you can improve upon.
It can be pretty easy to lose sight of your goals when so many distractions and responsibilities pull you in different directions. Still, as hard as it sounds, you can avoid this and take time to adjust to a new practice. Make self-reflection part of your work life as a habit. Here we'll share five resources that will help you get started. You'll find everything from quizzes and checklists to apps and social media tools in this list of valuable sources for introspection.
1. What is your self-awareness level? Quiz
First things first, before stressing out about jumping into a new routine, ProProfs Quizzes offers you a short quiz called "How self-aware are you?" After the test, the results will help you gauge how self-aware you are and offer suggestions on improving yourself.
2. Five self-reflection questions
To understand who you are, what you feel, and what's essential in your life, you need to set time aside, without interruptions, to ask yourself the right questions. It doesn't need to take long, and it can be in any environment you feel comfortable. We invite you to read these questions and note what they make you think about.
What went well in 2021? Name at least three things
What did I learn in 2021?
How did I change this year?
What am I leaving behind in 2021?
What I'm taking with me into 2022?
3. Respect your schedule
How often do you find yourself saying yes to things you don't want to do in the first place, but somehow, you always find time to do them? All these things pull us away from creating time for self-reflection.
By setting aside a fraction of your day for introspection, you're keeping yourself accountable for practicing this important skill. Start with 5 minutes a day whenever it fits best into your schedule. Of course, any form of successful practice requires consistency, so the more you do this, the better you get.
4. Everyday habits
Every person is different and can have their method of self-reflection. It's profoundly personal and must feel genuine and not forced. There is no right or wrong answer when choosing your strategy. Experiment and choose the methods that bring you the most joy that works for you. There are multiple activities that you can try out and then implement in your everyday life like:
Meditating - the Headspace app is always there for you or Spotify meditation playlists.
Journaling - write down your thoughts in a journal or a diary.
Creating art - it doesn't matter- your imagination is the limit.
Remember that the whole purpose is to turn inward and evaluate yourself and nothing else.
5. Be grateful
Research on gratitude by two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michel E. McCullough of the University of Miami, proved that people who show gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.
After seeing these results, it should be a no-brainer to take a few minutes each day and write down at least three things you're grateful for to help you put things into perspective. It’s important to notice how even the simplest things in life can bring you joy. Also, don't forget to write down the small victories- they are just as important as the big ones.
We hope that these five tools we've described today can benefit your journey of self-reflection calmly and healthily. Always remember to take a deep breath, set aside some time, and do anything you need to reconnect with yourself.
Want to join the GIG team? Look at our career section and learn more about how we empower the world for good through our employee-first approach.
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