Productivity coach Rashelle Isip argues that while professionals frequently conduct year-end business reviews, they rarely apply the same scrutiny to their personal work habits. To shift from an unsustainable “hustle and grind” mentality to a consistent, long-term workflow, she recommends a specific framework designed to identify ineffective patterns and lighten mental loads before the new year begins.
Embrace Ordinary Workdays
Unlike traditional reviews that focus on major accomplishments, this exercise requires analyzing the “average” day. To do this, select three random dates from your calendar: one from the first third of the year (Jan–April), one from the middle (May–Aug), and one from the end (Sept–Dec). Examining these random selections provides a more accurate representation of your daily reality and habits than focusing solely on exceptional highs or lows.
Resolve Any Resentment
Once the dates are selected, review them for negative memories or stressors, such as missed deadlines, pointless meetings, or working during vacation time. The goal is to identify the unhelpful internal narratives these events triggered—such as “I’m always swamped” or “I never have time for family”—and fully acknowledge these statements to address the resentment attached to them.
Mentoring question
If you were to audit a completely random workday from the past six months, what recurring friction point or negative thought pattern would you discover?