Why I Reflect Every Month
A Simple Habit That’s Changed How I Lead and Live
This past weekend, I took some time to reflect on the month of July and shared a few highlights over on Instagram. To be honest, I was blown away by what was accomplished, both personally and professionally. And I wasn’t alone. A lot of you started asking how I approach monthly reflections and planning. So I thought I’d break it down in this week’s newsletter.
First and foremost, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m an avid time tracker. Not from the perspective of rigid scheduling, but from simply noticing where my time actually goes. I love historical data. In fact, I love it so much, I created my own planner, The Observer, which is built around this exact idea. Observing your schedule.
One of my favorite parts of the planner is a weekly section called “Good Things That Happened.” As little wins pop up throughout the week, I jot them down. Then, at the end of the month, I look back over the past four weeks and revisit those highlights. And once a year, I do a full-year review. Honestly, it’s the best part of my year. I’m always amazed by how much I forget, how many incredible things happened that I didn’t take time to celebrate in the moment.
As a founder, I’m constantly thinking about how to improve. How to reach the next milestone. And while I love that drive, it can sometimes leave me feeling like I haven’t done enough. That’s why I value this reflection practice so much. It brings me back to gratitude. It reminds me of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve achieved, and just how blessed we are.
July was one of those rare, full-circle months. Personal and professional goals I’ve worked toward for years, some for over seven years, finally came to fruition. It felt like closing a chapter and stepping into something new. And more than anything, it reminded me how important it is to reflect, to acknowledge progress, and to celebrate those moments. That’s how we build confidence. That’s how we stay grounded.
You don’t have to use The Observer planner to do this. Just take some time to reflect and give yourself credit. It’s one of the most powerful practices my husband and I share. A deep sense of gratitude for what’s already here. And if you're a data person like me, you might even enjoy tracking those reflections over time.
So, as we step into August and the second half of the year, I hope you’ll carve out a moment to pause, reflect, and feel grateful. And I’d love to hear from you. What’s something you’ve accomplished this year or something you’re simply excited and grateful for?
Here’s to more gratitude and a prosperous rest of 2025.
"You don’t have to use The Observer planner to do this. Just take some time to reflect and give yourself credit."
Love it! It's this kind of stepping back that we don't do, but must so that, ironically, we can move ahead faster.
As Amos Tversky said, "The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours."