Questions to Ask Yourself for the New Year

We’ve all done the New Year’s Resolutions thing umpteen times. We’ve made lists with ambitious goals, hopeful ideas, and grand declarations. Everything from getting fit to managing finances better to organizing your home to hiking more with your kids. Raise your hand if you’ve gotten to March, with that list long forgotten, or with very few items checked off. (Raises hand.) I have found that lists of lofty goals can sometimes make me feel worse if I have not come close to achieving everything in due time.

For the past few years, instead of making a list of resolutions, I’ve made a list of questions. Seriously, questions! Questions that may help me prioritize factors in my life, that make me think twice about some things, and yes, that lead me to question what I have taken for granted. But of course, you don’t want a brain explosion! It doesn’t have to be all so deep, life-changing, and philosophical—it just needs to help you give more thought to what’s already in your world, and what you’d like to add or improve.

To help you get started, I’ve categorized the questions. These are just ideas to kickstart your own question-making process.

Deep and Meaningful

1. Who are the most important people in your life?
2. Are there family or friends you want to see more?
3. Do you like your home? Do you love it?
4. Are you proud of the work you do?
5. What makes you feel tired and frustrated?
6. Do you often wake up and look forward to the day, or dread it?
7. What three things are holding you back from living a contented life?
8. If you could change one thing about your personality with a snap of your fingers, what would it be?
9. What was your biggest regret of last year?
10. Was there someone who gave you the emotional and mental support you needed last year?

Lighter, But Still Thought-Provoking

1. What is the most enjoyable thing about your work?
2. Do you have more unfinished projects than you do finished ones?
3. What three words would your significant other, children, friends, or co-workers use to describe you?
4. Did you spend more time interacting with friends and family on social media than you did IRL (in real life)?
5. What was your favorite accomplishment this past year?
6. Is there another neighborhood, or city, or country, you wish you could live instead?
7. What is the nicest thing you did for someone last year?
8. What is the nicest thing someone did for you last year?
9. Which three things could you do to live a healthier life?
10. Is there something in your life this year that you are not looking forward to?

Fun Stuff

1. Who in your life makes you laugh the most?
2. What three movies are at the top of your “I-gotta-see-this” list?
3. Are there any new restaurants you want to take a special person to?
4. What one skill do you want to master?
5. Do you have a space in your home where you feel happiest?
6. What is something you do that makes you feel on top of the world?
7. Are there any new people in your life you want to get to know better?
8. What’s the most exciting thing you want to try in the New Year?
9. Did you read any books last year that you feel affected your life?
10. When is the last time you rewarded yourself for something you accomplished?

These questions are a great jump-off point for anyone. If you have specific goals and areas in your life you want to focus on, go ahead and gear your questions towards that. Let’s knock this next year out of the ballpark!