I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving really gave me time to reflect and think about what I’m grateful for, how to give more on days like Giving Tuesday, and throughout the year with an annual Giving Plan, and how to feel grateful for  the life I am living. It also gave me time to think about what I’ve set out to accomplish in the future, this year, this month, and this week. But, I’m careful not to make it all about productivity, and as I mentioned last week, it’s about spending our time in ways that are effective and full of meaning. As a contributing employee at a large tech company in a bustling corporate world, it can be easy only to focus on our work calendars, our deliverables – or projects due, deadlines, reports, and the list goes on…

This time of year may also be a time where we’re experiencing burnout from a full year, a long stretch without holidays, and it feels like everyone is just ready for a break! Along with feelings of burnout, may come feelings of inadequacy, or not feeling good about yourself, and maybe even, inefficiency, or feeling like you haven’t accomplished enough.

According to Psychology Today, when answering: What does burnout feel like? It’s described as: “feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment”.  This may also be the time of year when we realize we haven’t checked off some big to-do list items we set out to do at the year’s start when we defined our New Year’s Resolutions, which can make us feel disappointed. Can anyone relate?

Well, we can say goodbye to those not-so-nice feelings, and say hello to a new way of looking at what we have achieved at the end of each day. By breaking big goals into smaller actions, it feels much more achievable to feel positive, successful, and happy! Psychology Today also highlights ways to overcome burnout. Some of my favorites include:

• Reinforce effort, not outcome. Remember to reinforce yourself for trying rather than only for the end result.
• Take breaks between big projects. Burnout puts your mind and body in a weakened state, so avoid jumping from one stressful, time-consuming project to the next in order to give your mind and body a chance to recover.
• Just say “no.” While you’re “recovering,” avoid taking on any new commitments or responsibilities. I know you have to live in the real world and there will be some things that you just can’t get out of doing. But [we] have a bad habit of saying “yes” when they can say “no.” Resist that urge.

Setting boundaries and adopting a new outlook is a great place to start. So, I put together a list of questions we can ask ourselves at the end of the day (or even in the morning for some inspiration), to help us appreciate wins, small and not-so-small. In the new year, let’s resolve to lift each other up, celebrate our efforts, even when they may take time to materialize into what we define as success, and ask ourselves how we felt, acted, contributed, created, and lived.

And now for the list…

New Day’s Resolutions:

1. Did I learn something today?

2. Do I help someone?

3. Did I meet someone new?

4. Did I smile?

5. Did I smile at someone?

6. Did I think of a new idea?

7. Did I create something?

8. Did I save someone time?

9. Did I thank someone?

10. Did I thank myself?

11. Did I move my body?

12. Did I nourish my body?

13. Did I answer someone’s question?

14. Did I touch, see, smell, taste, or hear nature?

15. Did I recycle something?

16. Did I laugh?

17. Did I make someone else laugh?

18. Did I call someone who means a lot to me?

19. Did I try something new?

20. Did I try something I’m a little afraid of?

21. Did I ask someone about themselves?

22. Did I say no, thank you to something that didn’t feel right?

23. Did I put someone before myself?

24. Did I find beauty in the ordinary?

25. Did I have a true conversation and listen without response?

26. Did I make a difference for someone who needs help?

27. Did I take breaks for peace of mind/body?

28. Did I forgive someone or myself?

29. Did I contribute to a team?

30. Did I have fun or do something that makes me happy?

So, did you answer yes to any of the above? What questions would you add to feel happy, satisfied, and accomplished when you go to bed tonight?