TAKE A LOOK BACK TO PLAN AHEAD

Jun 22 2008 by Pauline Holt, Sunday Sun

IT’S hard to believe that we’re more than half way through the year. With summer upon us, and many people getting ready to go on holiday, this is a great time to reflect on what you have achieved in the first half of the year, and also how you would like the next five months to look.

Step One: Think about all your achievements so far this year . . . note them all, either in your mind or on paper. Make it as long a list as you can and then give yourself a real or imaginary pat on the back for everything — no matter how small — that you have achieved.

Step Two: Consider the rest of the year. How would you like your life to be different by the end of this year? Another way to look at this is to project yourself forward to December 31 and look back over the last five months. What would have to have happened for you to feel thoroughly contented with the way this year has progressed?

Step Three: Make a list of three key things that you would like to achieve by the end of the year. Is there a new and different challenge you’d like to set yourself? Is there something you’ve been wanting to do for ages, but you keep putting off?

This is a really good exercise to do at the end of the year as well.

V ANNABEL SUTTON is a professionally-certified life coach and author of 52 Ways to Handle It — a Life Coaching Year, available from Neal’s Yard Remedies — www.nealsyardremedies.co.uk — priced £6.50. To contact Annabel or subscribe to her free coaching tips, please email annabel@life-designs.co.uk or visit www.life-designs.co.uk