The 5 questions to ask yourself each day
Most of us attempted to keep a journal when we were younger, which we can now look back on and laugh at the trials and tribulations of teenage life.
However, keeping a journal about your days at work can actually help you get ahead in the office.
Often we become so obsessed with getting all our tasks done each day that we don’t look at the bigger picture and reflect on what we accomplished and learned.
It may be the last thing you want to do after a long day at work, so consider making it an every-other-day occasion, or weekly.
Instead of just writing anything down, prepare questions for you to answer in your journal each time which will help you see your progress easily and what you are learning. Ask yourself these questions:
- What did I learn at work today?
- What did I accomplish today?
- Did I do anything beyond my job description today?
- Did I receive any compliments at work today (and did I give any)?
- How can I improve tomorrow?
By writing in your work journal when you can, you will soon find yourself being more thankful for the little things and gives you the opportunity to focus on what you want from your career and how you can become more successful.
Teresa Amabile and Steven J.Kramer recently discussed the term “power principle” in their Harvard Business Review article, The Power of Small Wins. They asked professionals to keep diaries at work and found that the use of a journal can boost emotions, motivations and make progress more meaningful. By regularly reflecting on your time at work, you are celebrating your progress and small wins at work.
Not only will it help you stay calm, as you can remember what is important, it will also give you a reason to reflect on how you dealt with certain situations and how you can approach them next time.
If you try to only write down what you are thankful for, it will make you become a more positive person and often more successful.
