5 Ways to Reflect on Your Year

Every day is a blessing, so when you’ve reached the end of another 365, it’s worth it to take a look at everything you’ve accomplished in that time before moving on to next year’s goals. As dancers, reflecting is essential. Doing so can remind you of changes you’ve made, how much you’ve developed, and what goals are realistic for next year. To help you get started, read our list of 5 ways you can reflect on your year.

Read your journal.

If you regularly write in a journal, the end of the year is a great time for you to flip through your old entries. Being able to reflect on the thoughts, feelings, challenges and experiences you had in hindsight will surely offer you some insightful perspective on how far you’ve come!



Print memorable photos.

Don’t rely on social media or technology to store your most treasured moments. It’s worth it (and very affordable) to print out your favorite photos and put them in a special photo album so you can review and share them anytime. You can also hang them around your house to remind you of this year’s best moments!



Review your vision board/previous goals.

Did you create a vision board at the beginning of this year? If so, examine it and see which parts of your vision may have been manifested over the past 12 months. Remember, sometimes your accomplishments show up in ways that look different than what you expected, so be open minded when you review your goals. 

Related: Creating a Vision Board



Record this year’s highlights.

Did you make a new friend this year? Travel somewhere new? Get great feedback on an assignment for work or school? Don’t let the year pass without patting yourself on the back for these positive moments. Additionally, if you had some tough times, give yourself an opportunity to reflect on how you overcame them. If you use a planner, you can flip through each week’s schedule for a clear reminder of everything you’ve done. 



Update your dance resume and portfolio.

Dancers, do not skip out on this step! Don’t wait until you have a potential career opportunity to get your resume and portfolio up-to-date. Use this end-of-year reflection time to list the roles you performed, new techniques learned, classes taken, and more. 

Related: Perfecting Your Dance Résumé


As you reflect on your year, hop in the comments to share some of your top highlights!