As another year of success and failure comes and goes it is important to spend some time reflecting on the year. This time is not for criticizing or gloating it is simply to allow yourself to be present in what this year has brought for you.
First reflect on all of the good stuff. The big races, best workouts, and great times spent in amazing places. This is the best part and often the easiest to remember. When you think about those accomplishments you rarely remember the frustrated swearing and hours of pain. You remember the finish line and joy of achieving a milestone. So take the time and ask yourself what are the top 5 things that you accomplished this year.
Next reflect on the failures. Maybe it was an unexpected injury, a DNF, or life getting in the way of your goals. When reflecting on these moments don’t ask yourself why these things happened simply remember them. These failures and hardships are what make us resilient as athletes. They teach us to be more joyful in daily training and keep us hungry for new experiences. With this reflection ask yourself what were the top 5 failures or hardships that I experienced this year?
Finally reflect on some of the smaller things that you have done or not done consistently this year. Maybe it was starting to incorporate strength training or getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Think about all the other aspects that affect your training such as nutrition, recovery, and stress management. Reflect on 5 things you did consistently and 5 things that you can improve on in the future. These small things may not seem like a big deal but with a little reflection you may find that these consistent habits are the things that made the biggest difference.
After you have reflected on this year enjoy the present and be grateful for all that you have done both good and bad. Because when it comes down to it, the only reason why we do these crazy things is for the experiences and memories.
The new year will be here before you know it and with that comes a full calendar of planning, prepping and goal setting. For more tips on how to plan for next year check out this article.
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