Write a letter to yourself today to open a year from now
Writing to yourself on New Year's is a powerful way to move yourself into the future and reflect on the past
Every New Year’s for the last 6 years I’ve written myself a letter to read the following year. It’s a powerful tradition in reflection and intention setting. I hope you’ll join me in starting this tradition for yourself today.
I admit that this is a tradition with a long initial payback period. And it’s an odd first exercise for a column that will actually help you realize much shorter-term benefits from writing. Here’s why you should do it.
Taking time to think about where you’ve been this year and where you’re going is a powerful way to reflect on the past and draw the future toward you.
I promise that it will be amazing to open your letter next New Year’s!
How to write a New Year’s letter to yourself
If you want to write by hand, find something that gives you joy to write on. I write my New Year’s letters on cards so that I have something beautiful to open each year. You could also write yours in Google docs or Evernote. Actually, your letter doesn’t even have to be a written artifact, so feel free to use a voice memo as well.
Write or record detailed responses to these questions
When you are looking back at yourself next year, what do you hope you will see?
If this column succeeds in helping you write in 2021, what will you have accomplished as a writer by next year?
Looking back over 2020, what do you notice about your personal and professional life? What have been the joys and the challenges?
Save your letter in an envelope or in a file labeled New Years Letter 2021.
Stash your letter somewhere easy to find, but where it’s not likely to be disturbed (sock drawer?).
Schedule a reminder on your calendar for Jan 1, 2022 to read your letter (and instructions on where to find it) and write your next one. Having these letters to look back on each year will help you see your growth as a writer and a person.
Join me for a year of writing inspiration, ideas, and interviews. Paid subscribers will get exclusive access to exercises designed to help you use writing as a technology to hone your thinking and communicate powerfully and persuasively.
Set your intentions by sharing your writing goals for the year with the LeadersWrite community. No identifying information will be collected or shared.
Happy New Year’s!
