Fifteen questions to ask yourself on New Year's Eve

There are people who don't care about it at all, but I find New Year's Eve really fantastic. The end of the year is, after all, the moment to reflect on everything you've experienced. When else do you do that? Before you know it, the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, and you actually have no clue about your life anymore.

Taking stock gives you an overview, but also insight. Are you actually happy with the life you lead? What would you want more of, what would you want to change? You can only make good resolutions if you have a clear picture of how things stand now.

So grab a pen and paper, sit down comfortably, and get to work. It's also fun if your loved ones fill out the same list so you can share your answers with each other.

1. What were the highlights of the year?

Feel free to grab your agenda. Or your Insta feed.

2. What were the low points?

They probably aren't on Insta. But if all goes well, you still remember them.

3. What have you learned?

That can be anything: from making the perfect bolognese sauce to having a bit more confidence in yourself.

4. What have you unlearned?

Smoking, gambling, saying sorry all the time... There must be something.

5. Have new people come into your life?

And for what reason? Did you choose them yourself? What do they add?

6. Who did you say goodbye to and why?

Someone may have moved or passed away, or you changed jobs, or your relationship ended, etc.

7. What would you do differently if you could turn back time?

This can be quite painful. Not because I want to encourage you to feel regret and wallow in the past, but because this can teach you something for the future.

8. What did you do to relax?

Taking less on your plate is always a good idea. But actively doing things that help you relax is just as important. So what did you do last year to recharge?

9. What stressed you out?

Be specific. So don't just say ‘the neighbors’, but: ‘the shouting of the neighbor at midnight‘.

10. What did you get really annoyed about?

If something bothers you, it says something about yourself too. Generally, you react most strongly to traits that you also have to some extent. Ouch!

11. What is the best gift you have received?

Because it's just nice to think about this. Gratitude is the best medicine against gloomy thoughts or a bad mood.

12. Who surprised you the most?

It can also be someone who surprised you unpleasantly.

13. What was your most fun outing/vacation/party?

Maybe you had a really nice vacation in February 2018 and you had almost forgotten about it. Nice that you still think back to it.

14. Is there an overarching theme?

This is quite tricky. For me, this year was about completing a long process of transformation. If this is too deep for you, you can also just fill in something like ‘bitterballen’.

15. What do you want more of and what do you want less of?

Think about how you spent the past year. The real enthusiast even makes a pie chart. How much time did you spend on work, how much on family, how much on your hobbies, etc.? Does this distribution work for you? Then make a pie chart for the new year showing your ideal time distribution.

Happy New Year!