Every year at the end of the year I pull out my journal one last time for a ‘year end’ reflection. I can’t say enough about this habit! It is so important to me. I read a few journal entries from the beginning, middle, and latter months. I reflect on what I was experiencing at those times and ask myself these important questions:
- What was I feeling?
- Did I work through this?
- How did I work through it?
- Is there anything I would change?
- What did I learn from this?
I set new goals every year based on this information.
I review my previous year goals and reflect on the accomplishment of them. If I didn’t accomplish one of my goals I will use that goal again for the next year, if it still applies. For example, while doing my prerequisites for nursing school the goal was to finish! I used that goal again, and again until I finished school. I did the same thing with graduate school.
It is such a great habit to journal. As a nurse, it is vitally important! Dealing with tough situations is not uncommon in this profession and we need an outlet! And it all starts with nursing school….journal your journey! It not only is a great outlet, it is a true form of self-care.
Start now! This is a great time of year to start journaling! If you are on break from nursing school, start today! Reflect on this past year and what you have already accomplished! You finished you first year, right?! Good for you! Go buy a fancy journal and get started. Set some goals! Make the first one journaling your journey. Remember the book we heard about in nursing school that Florence Nightingale wrote, Notes on Nursing? She was journaling! Reflect on that my friends! It’s that important.
~Be Inspired
Lisa Marie Walsh
Nursing Inspiration 