It’s that time of year when we send gifts and cards to our friends, family members, colleagues, clients, and even some strangers. We realize how good it feels to do something nice for others.

This is also a good time to look inward. To take stock in where you are and where you’d like to be. And to make necessary changes so you can start the new year with a fresh perspective and renewed interest and commitment. Some things you should consider as we close out the year:

Set new goals: Review your goals for this year. How many did you accomplish or meet? Not too many? Determine why. Did you fail to follow through, or were your expectations too high?

The solution to the first case, of course, is to become more disci-plined. For the second, consider adjusting your goals. Failure breeds frustration, which causes you to stop trying completely.

Much like with a diet, your goals must be realistic. You should be commended for setting lofty goals, but make sure they are reasonable. Otherwise you’ll give up, and that’s worse than not trying at all.

Review your workload: All work and no play may make Jack a dull boy, but it can make for a stressed and ornery you. With today’s technol-ogy it is possible to work 24/7. For many folks, a 10-hour day is normal; even 12-hour days are starting to become commonplace. Some days and weeks will be busy, but that should not be the norm. That is not good for you, either mentally or physically.

Can you cut back, by delegating more or through other means? Realize what’s truly important in life. Perhaps a time management assessment is in order. Eliminate some of the waste, and your day becomes more productive. And shorter.

Reward yourself: We can be our worst critics, finding fault in nearly everything we do. This results in undo pressure as we strive for perfection. Recognize when you’ve accomplished something—whether large or small—and pat yourself on the back.

Psychologists have stated for years that humans require posi-tive “strokes.” Occasionally you need to step back and reward yourself. You won’t have to look hard for a reason. You frequently accomplish a task or provide a nice gesture to someone, so treat yourself.

Go to movie. Grab a box of candy. Take off for the weekend. You earned the break, so take it. Use these little rewards as incentives to continue striving, but also as reminders that you must devote time for yourself.

Clean up your office: This is one of those “when I get around to it” tasks. Now is that time. Rid yourself of old e-mails, letters, magazines and other materials you haven’t looked at in months. This will be a gargantuan task for some. The documents that you are sure you’ll need someday get added to those you were sure in January you’d need someday. It’s a never-ending cycle of “what if?”

Do you really need that copy of Inc. magazine from November 2005? Don’t laugh. I had one until recently. Dump it. (Better yet, recycle it.) What about all those files, folders, and other paperwork? Set aside time for a thorough cleaning now. You’ll be amazed at how much better it feels to walk into a clean and well-organized office.

Taking the time now—when it’s slower anyway—to make necessary changes in your life will help you end the year on a positive note, and get your new year off to an even better start.