The year’s end can cause workers to miss out on valuable career opportunities, so two career coaches provide three steps to get one’s own “year in review” started in the Harvard Business Review.

“To take control of your career development, you need to identify and take ownership of what you should do differently in the coming year,” wrote Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, co-founders and co-CEOs of career site Amazing If. “So seize this opportunity to press pause to reflect on the last 12 months, play it back to identify what worked and what didn’t, and fast-forward to apply what you’ve learned.”

The first step, pressing pause, is just that: slowing down, then gaining the perspective to propel oneself forward. Tupper and Ellis recommend that employees ask themselves “quiet questions” that can help them identify what they did well, so that they can stretch their strengths and spot mistakes—from which they can learn.

Tupper and Ellis recommend that employees perform this exercise in an environment where they will not be interrupted. “Set yourself a five-minute timer for each question to help you to think more deeply, and use your calendar for data so you’re not relying only on your most recent experiences,” they wrote.

The second step, playing it back, involves including a trusted colleague as a “playback partner.” Such a partner may have insights that help an employee clarify what was achieved or not achieved in the past year. "As each person shares their responses, the role of the partner is to listen and contribute any additional insights they have based on personal experience," they wrote.

Fast forward is the third step. This entails “turn[ing] the awareness you’ve gained into useful action for the future,” Tupper and Ellis wrote.

They recommend concentrating on identifying the most important action to take across a few different areas. with a focus finder tool, consisting of five deliberately definitive statements, starting with “I will,” to frame one’s thinking. The statements concern such goals as learning, supporting someone else and not repeating a mistake.

Tupper and Ellis also suggested saving answers in a place where they will be seen frequently, so as to act as a regular reminder.

“While the reality of work can feel especially overwhelming at the end of the year, reflection is the key to doing things differently in the year to come,” they wrote in conclusion. “Taking the time to review your year increases your self-awareness and provides insights to improve, which is perhaps the best gift you can give yourself.”