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One of the changes I’ve made in my life that greatly reduced my stress is to simply reflect upon my day as it ends and ask myself a few questions. I can easily gauge where I stand professionally, personally and in my relationships with just a few straight-forward questions. I encourage you to try this method as you’re getting ready for bed. Your world will become much clearer one you stop to reflect on your daily actions!

Here are the general questions I ask myself daily for my own reflection. Feel free to add your own in the comments below:

1. Did I Better Someone’s Life Today?
   We’re all very busy people and it is very easy to only worry about yourself throughout your day. Think about the times you drive through a shopping center parking lot and see someone trying to cross the street. Do you slow down to let them cross or do you speed up to get that obstacle in your rear-view mirror? Bettering someone’s life does not take huge donations of time, money or energy. Simple actions like slowing down for someone to cross a street can be gestures of kindness that remind those around you that there are still nice people out there.
2. Am I Closer To Completing My Primary Goal?
   Leo Babauta at Zenhabits.net stresses that we should have a primary goal so that we can accomplish one thing fully instead of juggling a number of unfinished projects. I follow this advice and each day I ask myself if I’m closer to completing that goal. Often times I can site work that I’ve done earlier in the day but when I have nothing to show for progress, this question forces me to think of what changes I will make to ensure I make progress the next day.
3. Did I Accomplish The Small Tasks That Needed To Be Done?
   Setting a primary goal can be a great motivator but I often find myself absolutely engrossed in that goal and neglecting smaller tasks. There often isn’t enough time a day to get everything done without a little planning. Leo wrote another great post about making time for your primary goal but what about those other tasks? Just because I’m working on a new project doesn’t mean I can let things get out of hand in my household. The dishes will pile up, the laundry heap grows and my bills sit in a stack waiting on my attention. Forcing yourself to consciously think about these small tasks will help you stay focussed on knocking them out one-by-one.
4. Do People Around Me Know That I Care About Them?
   I can say without hesitation that this is the most important question on my list. Putting your work above play can be an admirable ability some people possess. The problem is arises when we put work above our family and friends. As an example, every evening when I think about this question I specifically ask myself if my wonderful girlfriend feels loved. Did I make her happy today? Did I speak to my parents today?
5. Have I Planned For Tomorrow?
   Planning is a key aspect of organization and is inherent in most of these questions I asked previously. What if you’re not closer to completing your primary goal? What can you do differently tomorrow that will help towards progrses? Are there dishes in the sink that you can knock out first thing in the morning? When I ask myself this question, I often have a pen and paper in hand to jot some notes. By starting the next day with a plan, my morning productivity goes through the roof! As an aside, this post stemmed from last night’s self-reflection!

What Is Your Self-Reflection Routine?

My questions are short and to-the-point. I think I cover most of the bases with only five questions but are there other things I need to think about when I self-reflect? I’m sure there are so please leave a comment below with your personal questions!