If you aren’t doing a “year in review, year and preview” self-analysis, whether regarding your family, work, or other interests, then you’re simply doing it wrong. These aren’t New Year resolutions, they are a way to recommit to what you are already doing.

The year in review should always look back to document what you can be thankful for, and what challenges you faced. Did you meet your goals? Maybe not everything happened the way you wanted. Why or why not? Is there something you can be thankful for?

This past year I had toyed with the idea of writing a short story a month. I didn’t do that. After April I put projects aside to focus on other things. Even so, I am thankful that some things worked out that expanded my mental bandwidth so that I could write more this year.

The year in preview portion looks ahead and sets goals and road markers. My wife and I have family goals, individual goals, goals for our toddler, goals for our garden, and goals for our work. My goals this year are to keep grinding and getting stories written. I want to have a collection of short stories printed and bound. I also want to start working on a full-length novel. Additionally, I write non-fiction under a different name, and I want to successfully pitch and sell articles to outdoor magazines.

But these goals must be in balance. I can knock out a word count, but I won’t sacrifice my family to do it. My three-year-old wants me to tell him stories and take him on adventures, and I must oblige. My wife supports my work and my hobbies, but she needs to be supported too. So don’t overdo it with ambition. Set reasonable goals and then get after it.

Let me know what goals you have for 2025! While you’re at it, feel free to subscribe. Subscribers will have access to all future short stories in their entirety.