This is question #9 of the Year End Countdown Challenge held in Dec 2012, where we count down to the new year with 13 reflective questions. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Welcome to Day 5 of the 2013 Countdown Challenge! :D
2013 Countdown, Question #9…
Questions for the 13-day, 13-question countdown so far:
- #13: How has your year of 2012 been? | 159 Comments | Post Your Response
- #12: What are 12 things you love about year 2012? | 104 Comments | Post Your Response
- #11: What were your lowest points this year? Why? | 111 Comments | Post Your Response
- #10: What lessons have you learned from those low points? | 38 Comments | Post Your Response
Today’s question, question #9, is:
What could you have done better this year? (Be honest with yourself)
Your Task
- Reflect and answer today’s question. There’s no word limit – whether minimum or maximum. Write as few or as many words as you want. It’s all up to what you want to express!
- Share your answer. After you are done writing, copy and paste your answer in the comments area and post it there.
- Check out other participants’ answers. Other participants will be sharing their answers too, so feel free to read and reply to their answers.
Look forward to reading your answers! :)
(After you are done, proceed to #8: What can you do to ensure you don’t repeat the same behaviors in 2013?)
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I should have been consistent with my motivation, clear about my purpose and stuck out every venture to the end.
#2013Countdown, #9: What could you have done better this year? (Be honest with yourself)
– Call and see my friends and family more often. :hug:
– Be gentler to myself, still set high standards but also acknowledge my weaknesses and take time to recover after hard work.
– Take care of myself more often, LOVE myself more. :heart:
– Schedule more guilt-free play time! It is vital to be productive and overcome procrastination (one of my last discoveries, thanks to Neil Fiore and his great book “The Now Habit..”). :D
– Respect myself more and trust more in my co-worker’s capacities. They can do great things too, I am not the only one who is able to get the job done! It is team work. :clap:
– I hopefully already found the courage to speak up for myself a few times, still I need to stick to my needs and take the responsibility to take care of myself first, no one will do this for me!
Spiritually –
I could have listened better at my retreat
I could have moderated my choice of a spiritual director
Emotionally –
I could have looked before I leapt
I could have chosen to wait instead of leaping in
Physically –
I could have built an exercise routine
Intellectually –
I could have paid the price and applied to my dream school
• Applied for my masters studies; especially for the scholarship I found will be covering all expenses.
• Ability to make myself stronger as a person and not be vulnerable because of love.
• Improved my German language skills.
• Improved my cooking and increased the frequency of trying new dishes during weekend.
• Worked on improving my personal grooming (makeup and hair style).
• Started saving.
• Not allowed to deteriorate my self-confidence.
• Focused on personal development and business skills.
• Worked on personal objectives and having concrete results.
What could I have done better in 2012? Well it always comes back to being organised. I lose things, forget things, have not sensible or workable filing system except for paper vs not paper. I could have handled the facebook xmas tingle fiasco better in hindsight.
I could have dealt with all my romantic stuff better – but then again, I suppose there is no easy way to deal with break ups! Everyone is different.
I guess I could have also….well I did a lot of silly things this year because of alcohol. I think I could have drank less. I think sometimes that I drink too much, and I’ve only noticed this during the past few months – because this year I’ve made a lot of older friends – all of whom drink heavily. I sometimes look at them downing vodka after vodka and think “I really don’t want to keep doing this five or six years down the line”. I think one of my new year resolutions is to make a conscious decision to cut down on my drinking, because a) I want to save money and b) I just don’t enjoy it so much anymore.
*I could have managed my career better, it was good to take some time off but I could evaluate it for good networking to get a job as I want for the time I was ready
*I could have evaluated my free time better, by taking courses or making small steps of learning something that I do not know, I feel like I wasted it
*I could have got more of my coaching sessions, I think I ended them a bit early, but what I feel more like was the method was not quite right for me..
1. Not have gotten involved with useless people.
2. Used my time wisely.
3. Read way more.
4. Been more appreciative.
5. Built a better relationship with my parents.
6. Actually have exercised instead of talking about doing it.
7. Could have written way more.
8. Could have made the effort to get along wih my brothers.
9. Could have been much more active at work.
10. Could have done more to not have failed my last math class.
I think what it all boils down to is complacency. I get comfortable where I’m at, even if I don’t really like it, and I don’t want to be bothered to work at making it better. Well, idly wanting a change isn’t enough – change requires work, and often going outside one’s comfort zone. I got comfortable with my marriage sliding slowly downhill, because it didn’t require me to make a change. I got comfortable with my physical condition getting worse, because it didn’t require me to make a change.
Well, I suppose another word for that would be laziness.
I want to add so much to my company progress but I was not allowed.
But still I have done and doing my job with great sincerity for the betterment of the company.
But owner of company is only interested in making money by any means and he is not interested in giving to those who are earning for him.
Its pity, one day these poor will do the same which our seniors witnessed in 1947 partition.These peoples are destroying this nation for their benefits.
I am still doing my bit.One day these peoples will realise their fault, then it will be too latew.I am confident that one day I will win.
Spend more time focussing on those who I love. Eliminate negative relationships earlier. Less procrastinating. Been more house proud.
Be more forgiving with myself on things that were beyond my control.
Do not jump to conclusions “very fast” when things do not go as plan
Be more patient when things do not come my way
Smile from the heart
i needed to have been going to the gym everyday, i hardly went on a regular basis
i kept binging on foods that make me gain weight….sometimes due to feeling down or just for peers sake…i should not have done that
i needed to plan my day everyday, i was literally late everyday of the year due to which i missed very many morning classes in uni
i never read adequately daily, some days i read so wastefully that i read 15minutes work in 2hours
i needed to have stopped chasing my ex when he clarified he does not want to get back
i needed to take care of my hair
i needed to stay more active, play more sports like badminton, like do more swimming
i needed to keep in touch more with my family, friends and other persons i just made new friends with
i needed to learn something new, like french, like better my swimming, do more jogging
i needed to take advice on time for my reports, damn i would have a done a great job if i was open enough to ask
i needed to be able to talk more with my lecturers so as to get an insihgt to what was being taught
i needed to have atleast rudhed through the topics for the next day in university
i needed to be flossing everyday, damn i hate it takes too long
i needed to stop getting angry at people who are just durm
i should have learnt how to stitch clothes
i needed to love myself more
1. Cud’ve been more disciplined
2. Cud’ve taken better care of my health
3. Cud’ve been consistent in seeing something till the end
This year, there’s a lot I could’ve done better, but I think the biggest thing would be just to not procrastinate. I’m always putting things off, even things I want to do. It’s not the way I want to be, and it’s certainly not something I’d like to continue.
I think at times I could’ve handled myself better as well, in terms of calming myself down and not repeatedly going to my friends to help with the same things over and over again. If I listened to their advice, if I worked through what the real “problems” I was having were, I probably could’ve prevented a lot of the problems I had.
I think another real problem is commitment. So many times I think I can do something, or I set out to learn something, but I give up. I often get afraid if I don’t progress as fast as others, or I get bored, or sometimes I’m just simply distracted by the next thing that catches my interest. I want to learn how to figure out what it is I really want to learn and do with my time, and then stick with it.
Also, there’s a certainly laziness/fear I have. If something seems too difficult or it will involve confrontation, I’d rather avoid it even if it’s to my detriment. If it involves going out of my comfort zone, chances are I’ll do everything I can to avoid it.
I think I could’ve also done well to be positive more often. Sometimes (especially with people) I think I was much more negative than I should’ve been, and some situations I let myself get out of control for no real, good reason.
As the last one I’m gonna write, I could’ve done a better job with creating and sticking to new, positive habits. There was so much I wanted to learn or incorporate into a routine that I just never did. I’d love to, at the end of next year, say I’ve at least actively achieved certain habits or skills (or, the habit of improving on certain skills). I’d love for 2013 to be a year where I do and stick to some awesome goals!
Go for it Alexa! I really hear ya about procrastination! That’s a biggie…and making progress in this area is life-changing! Let’s see… What could my life look like were I not to procrastinate? Hmmm…
You are SO capable of doing whatEVER you decide you want to do! Maybe knowing you can do something lowers the bar for you? Just a thought? What would be so motivating in your life that you would not want to procrastinate? Hmmm…
And I’m sure there are lots of people who can support and encourage you, once you decide what it is you have set your mind to accomplish. Yes, sometimes it is very helpful to listen to others and pay heed. It saves so much time and aggravation. :D
I hope that you venture out from time to time from you comfort zone, Alexa…just get your big toe wet for a start, and pretty soon, you’ll be IN the water swimming and loving it! :dance:
And here’s to sticking to your commitments!
Isn’t it great when the goal IS reached?!!!! :D
Happy, Healthy, Fulfilling New Year Alexa! :hug:
1. Be more courteous to family
2. Be more sensitive to others needs
3. Active volunteering
4. Not hurting others “verbally” as I do not like them
5. Keep in contact with juniors, teachers and primary school friends
6. Relationship wise, stop thinking about it.
7. The lack of self-discipline and control
not procrastinate but complete a task when given
not be so talkative but do more listening and watching
when starting something see it through to the end
not place people on pedestals and let them work their way down ,but instead place people at a lower level and let them work their way up to the pedestal
not trust people so easily, but instead get to know people thoroughly
when I know things about people and act on it instead of ignoring it
be more confident in myself and speak up for myself and my family
helped my mother more and been a better sister and mentor to my siblings
stayed focused and studied diligently and worked to my fullest potential
forgive what others have done to me and move on
become one with God
kept my promises and lived by my morals and values
been a better friend and more trustworthy
been wiser and disciplined
listen to those wiser than me who have my well-being in mind
been honest with myself
not been so hostile and rude towards family members
not use profanity to express how i feel
express myself more instead of keeping things in
eat healthy and exercise
Love myself more and my strengths and weaknesses my beauties and flaws
appreciative of all of God’s gifts to me
do things without haste but slowly and take my time
enjoy the moment I’m in and make the best of it
not yell so much
learn from my mistakes and prepare for the future
not dwell in the path
not be stressful
be honest with people
not be so passive
Being honest with myself I already know several things I could have done better.
For one I could have managed my money better and be so much closer to getting my license back.
I had the tools and knowledge to exercise and get fit but I slacked in the department.
I wanted to be able to not procrastinate as much on things like house cleaning and I wanted to be able to set structured rules for my daughters such as even a certain bedtime and I definitely had the tools to get more organized with my bills and daily appointments and I didn’t.
I don’t want to be too hard on myself but these are the main things I could have done so much better on and didn’t.
I could have been better towards…
– My friends :hug: by being more aware of how I have hurt their feelings through my words (being blunt)
– My parents :love: by caring for my parents more and being more considerate
– My teachers, self and parents :p by balancing study and play better (e.g. putting in more effort in my studies and paying more attention in class)
– Strangers :angel: by helping strangers that I meet in my life that need help
– Myself :heart: by paying more attention to my own needs and wants
Almost everything but mostly what I listed in #9. It has been a hard tough year physically, mentally, emotionally and health-wise.
I could have communicated better, listened more, reacted less. I think this is the biggest interpersonal change I need to make
What could you have done better this year? (Be honest with yourself)
– I could have worked more on my website. I made decent progress but I fell way short of the original goal I set earlier this year.
– I could have done a better job managing my health and fitness routine. For several months I had no exercise and I ate a terrible diet. That definitely cost me.
– I could have done a better job at work over the past couple of months. Lately I have felt quite demotivated and have thought of my day job more and more as something that I must escape from. I have become more and more frustrated.
– I could have done a better job managing my emotions. There were many times when I just felt so stressed out and so angry I didn’t feel like I could breathe.
Hi Matt,
Don’t knock yourself so hard, start by taking one step, one action on your website, exercise, job or emotions – isolate that and work on it until it becomes part of you. You have some great ideas keep going, you can do it!
I could have spent more time with my friends and family.
Write my personal goals and follow the plan.
The #1 thing I could have done this year that would have paid off dividend for me would have been to work on getting as healthy as possible, and establishing routines to exercise regularly, as well as meditate/journal/pray on a regular basis.
Be more positive.
Take care of my health better.
Take more adventures.
I wish I had asked more questions, especially when it came to the health of certain family members who were not willing to ask for help until it was too late.
I could have spent more time working on my art, but at the same time, I do not feel that I wasted my free time. There were also some days at work where I could have been more productive, or handled situations in a different way. In every situation though, I reflected on what I did wrong and tried to do a better job the next time around.
Overall, no regrets. I did the best I could this year.
I could’ve slept more & worked less, taken care of myself as much as I take care of others, laughed more and complained less. Learned how to be more zen.
There was nothing I could have done better. I was perfect this year! I was calm and happy and grateful and productive and learned from my mistakes and acted graciously… My life has never been better!
I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that for any appreciable time in my life yet. It’s rather astonishing!
All the relationships in my life are vibrant and progressing. My career and finances are thriving. My health is great. My love life is phenomenal. What an amazing question! There hasn’t been a moment at all this year where I thought ‘oh, I need to work on that.’
As a formerly shy, very angry person – to go a whole year being grateful and happy is almost unbelievable. But I’ve done it, and maybe now I can capitalize on my success, and keep it going for another year!
Wow….That is a-MAZE-ing, Susan. Really and truly how great it is to hear your happiness and gratitude and all with having lived such a wonderful year! You are very blessed and so fortunate to be “living the dream awake”!!!! :D
May this kind of living and loving continue to flourish and grow in your live, and may others be inspired by your happiness and success. You sound very fulfilled! :dance:
That is awesome to go from once being angry and shy to outgoing and happy and grateful! :clap: Wonder how you went from that one reality to another. That would be inspiring to others, most likely, right?
Anyway…all the best in this new year and beyond!…. :hug:
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