The Yearly Check-in
“If we were to uproot only one vice each year, we should soon become perfect.”
— Thomas à Kempis“The smallest good act today is the strategic point from which, months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.”
— C.S. Lewis“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
— John Wooden“Not getting discouraged as we grow is itself an act of humility.”
— Roberta C. Bondi
Restructuring
How do I need to restructure my calendar, time, commitments, etc?
Resolutions
What few things do I want to resolve to do this year?
Goals
Any goals I create should be SMART: specifc, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
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Questions to answer:
- What book do I need to read in January to jumpstart my goals?
- What spiritual discipline spawned the most virtue this past year?
- How do I need to restructure my daily or weekly rhythm to flourish more?
- How did I perform this past year? Did I achieve my goals? Did I overestimate?
- What part does Lent play in my resolutions for this coming year?
- What is something that feels like it is productive in the moment, but usually ends up wasting time / energy / resources?
- Think about your roles: spouse, parent, and person. Is one out of balance? Can you correct it?
- What do we need to work with kids on? What new chore or activity should we be doing?
Plan Your:
- Calendars: Plan one year in advance. Get down all the major travel plans.
- Purchases: Create a list and prioritize.



