One of the best things we can do as we head into the new year is review and re-evaluate. 2020 is the start of a new decade if we want this one to be better than the last one, we must take some time out of our busy schedules to reflect. As we contemplate things that occurred in 2019 and prep for the new year, here are 4 key areas we should examine:
Look at things done well. When it comes to your career, your finances, and your personal life what are some things you feel you did well in 2019? For me, that could include a variety of things. In terms of my career, I interviewed at many amazing hospitals and accepted a job at my top choice in Atlanta. I learned quite a bit during my first 6 months as a physician and have done well on various tests and evaluations. In terms of my finances, there are many things I am proud of as well. I started living in an affordable apartment and paid off a significant amount of debt. I also created a monthly budget that allowed me to give money away to others, save for retirement, and teach me to live below my means. In terms of my personal life there are few things I’m proud of as well. I finally moved to the same city as my family and have cultivated some amazing friendships. What about you? What are some things you feel went well in2019?
Look at things that could have been done better. Although it’s nice to think back on our accomplishments, in order for us to keep progressing we must also reflect on our shortcomings. We must take a look at things that could have gone a bit better and determine where we can make improvements in the new year. For me, that includes several areas of my life. In my career, I’m happy I started working as a physician, but I need to do a better job continuing to learn new information by reading updated journals more frequently and researching the medical management of specific diagnoses more consistently. In terms of my finances, I need to do a better job tracking my spending. I have a general spending plan, but there are certain areas in my budget, mainly food and restaurant spending, that I could cut back on if I tracked it better. I also need to build up a larger emergency fund. What are some things you’d like to be better in your life in 2020?
Determine what you’d like to achieve this year. We should each have a few goals for 2020 in various areas of our lives. My 2020 goals in my career are to take and pass the last of a 3-part series of national board exams. I’d also like to publish and present research at a national conference, begin a quality-improvement project within my family medicine clinic, and be the team doctor for more athletic events. Within my finances, I’d like to pay off all credit card debt from my graduate school days, save and invest even more money toward retirement, continue to give to charities, and pay for a couple international vacations in cash. In my personal life, I’d like to prioritize more time with my family and continue to cultivate friendships with even more people who push me to be a better version of myself. What are some things you’d like to accomplish in your career, finances, and personal life this year?
Determine the actions, steps, or commitments you need to make to ensure this year is better than the last. In order to achieve the goals we set out in the previous step there are different action steps and character traits we must adopt in order to turn those dreams into a reality. For example, if I want to do well on my board exam, present research, and start a quality improvement project I need to stay organized and create deadlines to finish certain parts of my research. If I want to pay down the remaining credit card debt and save more for retirement, I must make sure I have some automatic payments coming out from my bank account and increase the percentage of my check that goes towards index mutual funds. If I’d like to make more time for the people I love, then I need to prioritize time each day that is free from other commitments. No meetings, no emails, no work projects, or blog writing, and instead having at least an hour each day of personal time. Tell me, what action steps and commitments are willing to make to ensure that you meet your goals for 2020?