Usually, at this time of the year, we already have plans for New Year's Eve. We know we are going to meet and celebrate with people we like and we are looking forward to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.

This is not going to happen this year. No New Year's Eve parties in 2020, at least not here in Austria.

The pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have had an impact in one or the other way on both our professional and private lives.

Nevertheless, let's use the time of the ending year 2020 to reflect and look ahead.

A great way of looking back to something is definitely by using solution focused principles. Sometimes, from my perspective, reflecting on something - a project, a sprint or a whole year - puts the focus on things which could have been better. Aiming to improve and find ways to do better next time. What I missed, when I did it that way is, that I fully neglected the good things and, there were a lot of them. Actually, these good things are the positive aspects which we should leverage.

There are way more good things than you think. Believe me.

Not only that it is way more fun to just think about the good things. It also has positive effects on our mental model and this is going to increase the probability of achieving our New Year's Resolutions.

So.... how does that work?

Well, it is actually quite simple. Answer for yourself, or even together with your familiy, the following three questions:

• What did you do well last year? What are you proud of?
• Whom did you help during the year?
• What would you do differently? (Look at things which you are planning to do)

Spend roughly 5 minutes on these three questions and keep going even though you might think: "There is nothing more to add". You will be surprised how many things will come to your mind.

What is this good for? It forces you into a positive thinking attitude which increases the production of "hapiness hormons" and - in turn - this will make you more productive. Neat, isn't it?

New Year's Resolutions are great. Aren't they? It feels so good to write them down. One list, which describes all the things you want and need to achieve next year.

Honestly speaking, writing down the resolutions on a piece of paper turns out to be the first and last time you will be looking into your goals. Has that happened to you in the past as well?

That's the reason why I use OKRs to define the things I like to achieve in the upcoming year. And I suggest that you do it as well.

OKRs for your New Year's Resolutions

OKRs are - at a high level - not different from New Year's Resolutions.

OKRs can be split up into two parts. The Objective and the KeyResults. The objectives are like New Year's Resolutions. The Key Results describe the steps which are necessary to achieve your goals.

OKRs turn New Year's Resultions into achieveable and measureable goals

And here is an example of an OKR. This is actually one of my personal OKRs for the next year, my measureable New Year's Resolutions.

Objective: I will run 10 kilometers in less than an hour
Key result: Create a training plan by end of February
Key result: Run at least 3 times a week for more than 30 minutes
Key result: Increase pace by 10% every second month

Setting objectives creates focus and the key results help you to see the steps towards your goals.

So, get ready and prepare your OKRs for the next year. Have fun!

New Year's Resolutions are great. And looking back on the expiring year with a positive review - with a focus on things which worked well - and setting your goals with measureable steps will significantly and positivly impact your life.

Using tools and processes is great. Using them in a very lightweight way is even better. Happy New Year!

P.S.: This can be used for your organisation as well 😃