Quarterly Reset In 5 Questions

5 questions to ask yourself before the start of a new quarter. In other words, today! :)

Somehow we have already reached the end of the first quarter of 2025. I strive to be intentional with my time, yet I still can’t quite fathom how these first three months have whipped by so quickly!

And like most time milestones, this period before the start of the new quarter offers a terrific opportunity to reflect on and celebrate where you are, decide what you want to continue and what needs changing or course-correcting, and plan for a purposeful and successful quarter ahead.

That’s what today’s article is here to help you do. A few months back, I shared a number of tips and ideas for an end of year review that you can easily adapt for a quarterly review, too (and which, if answered on a quarterly basis, will make your year-end one easier and more accurate!). But if you want a more compact version, the five questions below will get you there.

Set aside an hour, find a quiet setting, and celebrate yourself a bit before moving on to the next chapter of the year!

1. TRIUMPHS: What are you celebrating from first quarter?

As you reflect on the last three months, what do you consider highlight moments, proud accomplishments, or memories that make you smile? Celebrating the achievements that feel meaningful and valuable to you can help you determine your priorities, define ‘success’ for yourself, and even further clarify your values.

Your wins don’t only include goals you accomplished, however. Also consider challenges you navigated, fears you faced, and unexpected hurdles you’ve overcome. These are worthy of celebration, too! As Adam Grant writes in Hidden Potential, “Progress is not only reflected in the peaks you reach - it’s also visible in the valleys you cross. Resilience is a form of growth.”

2. ROUTINES: What do you want to start, stop, and continue doing?

Make sure to consider all three aspects of this question. Often (though certainly not always) when we embark on a new goal or project, deciding what we need to start doing comes fairly easily. If you want to make more sales, for instance, you may recognize that you need to start making more sales calls each week.

We also need to look at what to stop doing in order to achieve the goal - what hurdles to clear away to boost chances for achievement. To continue the sales example above, you may decide that in order to increase the number of sales you make, you need to stop doubting yourself so much, or to stop waiting until late in the week to begin making your calls.

Equally important, and often completely overlooked, involves acknowledging what habits and routines you’ve developed that are helping and that you want to continue doing. Maybe you’ve discovered that making those sales calls first thing in the morning tends to lead to the best results, because your potential clients are typically in the office and your energy level is highest. Or you may recognize that exercising 3-4 times per week is really supporting your mindset and makes you feel stronger, and you’ve begun noticing the impact that has on your work results. Take care to weave those ‘continue doing’ actions into your future plans.

3. LESSONS: What have you learned about yourself, your goals, and things that help or hinder along the way?

Throughout the first quarter, what have you learned about yourself, your energy, your focus, your actual progress compared to your anticipated progress, and what is helping - or hindering - your forward movement? These could include deep, transformational lessons you’ve uncovered, or simple reminders that have recently returned to the forefront.

For several years, I used to post my top ten lessons learned each month on social media (let me know if you’d like me to start doing that here on Substack, too!). Often my biggest lessons felt like a trip back to basics - things like run your own race, decide and take action (my mantra for avoiding overthinking), you attract what you track, and so on. Acknowledging those lessons - whether for the first time or the 50th - can support your meaningful success going forward.

4. GROWTH: How have you grown, personally and professionally?

How have you grown already this year? Don’t be humble with your response to this question. There are things you can do now that you couldn’t do, or couldn’t do as well or as easily, a few months ago. You’ve developed new skills, strengthened others, and have expanded your knowledge in a variety of ways. Now is a great time to make note of that growth!

Along with this question, I’d encourage you to reflect on what has helped you grow, too. Did you hire a coach? Take a course? Deliberately practice honoring your boundaries? Ask for help? Let go of certain time-consuming activities to free up time for more important goals?

And remember, growth isn’t only the things you can quantify on a spreadsheet or display in a chart. Maybe you’re noticing that your mindset consistently feels stronger these days, or that you’re procrastinating less. These things count as growth, too.

“What used to be your ceiling is now your floor.” - Katherine Morgan Schafler

5. PURPOSE: a) As you reflect on the first quarter’s wins and highlights, what makes them meaningful for you? b) As you look ahead to next quarter’s goals, why do they matter to you?

Finally, and I would argue most importantly, what’s the why behind it all?

Why do those triumphs you established in question #1 matter to you? How do they make a difference for you and/or those around you? Similarly, what’s your why behind the goals, projects, and plans you’re lining up for the months ahead? How will they support you, your growth, and/or those around you along the way toward their achievement? What will be different once you’ve achieved or completed them?

Not only is purpose the greatest motivator that I know of, it also helps ensure feeling that resounding sense of fulfillment as you pursue and achieve your goals rather than just a ‘check the box and move on’ experience. Knowing your personal purpose can help you thrive in all aspects of work and life, and knowing the purpose behind your goals can make the entire process more rewarding, fulfilling, and satisfying.

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I have grown to love the quarterly reset process for a number of reasons - a big one being that a quarter, or roughly thirteen weeks, is enough time to accomplish something significant but not so much time that it feels forever away. A doable container of time, if you will. Take some time to reflect, celebrate, envision, and plan - it will most certainly be time well spent.

What else would you add to your quarterly reset? What is something you’re looking forward to in the second quarter? Feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, or wins in the comment section!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.

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