Half-term is here and we’re sure that lots has happened during this school year already! Sure, it may not feel like it yet, we’re just warming up after all, but now is a great time to begin reflecting on how things are going. Self-reflection is a great way to keep on track, reduce stress and work towards your goals. You will have entered this academic year, prepared or not, relatively blind. It’s not always easy to know what to expect, but now things have settled and you’ve found your routine, it’s time to reflect on the progress that you’ve made so far.
To start things off, focus on all of the good things that have happened so far! What courses are you breezing through? What tasks feel easy? What have you already achieved so far? That last one might seem odd to consider, being so early in the year, but have you made it to every class? Written an impressive number of notes? These are all small wins! Over time, positive habits start adding up which will help you make progress throughout the year.
Listing the positives can also help you to understand which things are NOT a priority. If you are already getting good, predicted scores on a subject, there’s less need to focus on that when things get busier. Don’t take that the wrong way, it’s important to continue with these things, as the positive result comes from what you’re already doing! Instead, just be aware that you may need to focus a little more of your energy on areas you can improve in.
Before we get started with the negatives, remember that the number one rule of self-reflection is to be honest but not too critical! Be fair and kind to yourself, by considering key elements to improve rather than generalising. Saying something like “I am bad at Math” is not helpful as there is no room for improvement. You have accepted defeat before you even start! You could be great at multiplication, average at statistics, and okay at fractions, but if you are struggling with something like algebra then you can write down, “I need to improve algebra”.
Write all the areas you can improve on; you may even see a pattern in the subjects you are particularly struggling with. Now is the time to plan! What small step can you take to get better at something? What support do you need to get to where you want to be? Being aware of your weaknesses can help you adjust and move forward.
A growth mindset is the key to success! Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, it’s important to think outside of the box and be open to trying new things. Now that you’ve identified the areas you’d like to improve in, how will you get there? It’s important to find tools that work for you, but here are some techniques that could help:
For those keen readers of our blogs, you’ve probably seen us mention reflection, whether that’s at the end of exams or the start of a new academic, but here is the thing… Reflection never ends. You can reflect now and then a month, a week, or even a day later. Reflection becomes a healthy habit to look back and learn from your achievements and mistakes.
As you overcome new challenges, you can reflect to see how much you have grown mentally! As you progress, your mental resilience and self-esteem can only get better. If this is something you are struggling with, however, and you need to Reboot Your Resilience, then check out our online programme. It’s here to help you get into the right mindset to relax and achieve your goals next term!
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