Review Your Life

We have to try as much as possible to be very intentional about our life and growth. No one will do it for you. You would have to do it for yourself. I have been doing this consistently every midyear and yearly for a decade and can attest to how beneficial it has been to me as an individual.

10 thematic areas I use to review my life every midyear and yearly. I recommend it to people who would want to review their resolutions on a regular basis. You might want to pick a thing or two from this.

1. Spirituality

How was your relationship with God or your object of worship? Did you make enough time to fellowship with God or your object of worship on a personally intimate level? Do a thorough search within. You'll find the answer. Would you want to maintain, improve, or make amends?

2. Your Health

How did you use your body? Holding all other factors constant, if you continue using your body the way you did, will you live longer? How has your sleep pattern been? Do a deeper introspection on your diet. Would you want to vary the types of meals you take? Have you done any medical checkups or screening this year? How well have you put your mental health under check? How often did you drink water in a day? Have you unconsciously replaced adequate water intake with alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages? Are you hurting your liver and kidneys unintentionally?

3. Time Management

How well or badly did you use or spend your time? What did you use your idle moments, weekends, annual leave, and holidays for? Time used on productive or wasteful things? Everyone has 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. How well do you maximise the time you have? Those ahead in life have mastered the art of time management.

4. Relationship

How well have you related with your bosses, mentors, pastor(s) or imam(s), colleagues, mates, friends, neighbours, and your fellow human beings? What roles have you played in the lives of your parents, siblings, partner, spouse, and immediate relations? Would you have to work on yourself in the coming year?

5. Career or Profession

How did you perform at your workplace? Are you happy with your performance in your unit or department? What will your colleagues say about your performance, humility, attention to detail, meeting deadlines, punctuality, commitment, and dedication? Do a deeper search within. You'll know the answer.

6. Leadership

You're a leader. The only difference between you and the one leading you is that you've not taken time to sharpen your leadership qualities. How many books or materials have you read on leadership this year? How many videos have you watched on leaderhsip from leaderhsip experts or conferences did you make time to attend? You can do better in the coming year.

7. Education

Did you make time and actually took part in any short refresher courses, workshops, conferences, scientific seminars, CPDs, online courses, weekend courses or informal vocational or technical programmes that have flooded the internet and social media? What's your excuse? If you're currently in school, how well have you performed? Any room for improvement?

8. Internet & Social Media

How did you use social media? How did you use the internet? How much profit or losses have you made? How much do you spend on data bundle and airtime in a week? Are you using the internet and social media to your advantage or disadvantage? Are you aware people are making millions on these sites? Are you also making money or making losses? How many hours do you spend a day on social media? Is it worth it?

9. Entertainment & Recreation

Are you too serious with life? Did you make time to give yourself a treat and entertain yourself in the year? How many recreational facilities, restaurants did you visit to release stress? Have you watched and engaged in sporting activities to relax your brain or attended entertainment shows that are close to your location? How well did you spend your leisure time, holiday, annual leave or vacation?

10. Finances

Aside from God, the last thematic area is arguably the most important thing in life. Most areas I mentioned earlier depend on the availability of money. Take a moment and critically look at your revenue and expenditure in the entire year. You're most likely spending more than you're earning. Advise yourself accordingly.

Try and make more money. Create more streams of income. The best way to make, manage, and grow money is not to chase it. Educate yourself first on financial literacy. Read financial books. Invest in financial literacy. Financial literacy is hardly taught in the classroom. It should be a personal decision and effort to get yourself well educated in this area. After doing this, you'll know what to do about your financial life in the coming years.