Post 39: On Reflection — Neel Nanda

Take your time: Allow yourself the space to give each question careful thought. There are no right or wrong answers—only your personal experience. Be honest: Only genuine self-reflection can unlock actionable insights. Express what truly comes to mind, even if it’s unexpected or feels uncomfortable. Reflect regularly: Consistent reflection can help

Next. Use the insights from both the Plus and Minus columns to shape your actions for the upcoming period. Consider strategies to foster more of the positive observations listed in the Plus column. This might involve protecting your time for work that brings you joy, seeking resources to acquire new skills, or finding ways to deepen the relationshi

Here are more examples of favorite problems from my students: How do I live less in the past, and more in the present? How do I build an investment strategy that is aligned with my mid-term and long-term goals and commitments? What does it look like to move from mindless consumption to mindful creation? How can I go to bed early instead of watching

Some people never seem to learn. One difference, perhaps, between those who do and don’t is whether they have cultivated the habit of reflection. Reflection is a form of retrieval practice (What happened? What did I do? How did it work out?), enhanced with elaboration (What would I do differently next time?).

consider more fundamental changes to your goals, priorities, and systems that you might not have the chance to think about in the busyness of the day-to-day. Here’s mine: Review and update my goals. Review and update my project list. Review my areas of responsibility. Review someday/maybe tasks. Reprioritize tasks.