You've Got This | Tips & Strategies for Meaningful Productivity and Alignment in Work and Life · Dr. Katie Linder

YGT 471: 26 Reflective Questions to Close Out Q1 of 2026

March 25, 2026·9 min

Dr. Katie Linder hosts this solo episode of "You've Got This," a podcast for higher education professionals. She presents 26 reflective questions designed to help listeners review the first quarter of 2026 and plan for the next. Linder structures these questions into several thematic categories to guide personal and professional assessment. The first five questions encourage looking back, starting with identifying three things that went well this quarter. Listeners are prompted to consider what they are most proud of from the past three months, including private achievements. Another question asks what meaningful projects were completed or moved forward significantly. Linder also suggests reflecting on what was surprising about the quarter's unfolding and what did not go as expected, including the lessons learned. A second set of questions focuses on alignment with annual goals, asking where the most progress was made and where efforts have stalled. Listeners are to evaluate which goals still feel energizing and relevant three months into the year. Conversely, they should identify any goals that now feel less important or out of alignment, with Linder noting it is an acceptable time to remove items from a goal list. The next category examines energy and sustainability, probing which activities were energizing versus draining in the past quarter. Questions explore when listeners felt the most focused or "in flow" and when they felt overwhelmed or stretched too thin. Linder advises adding a "why" to these reflections to understand the causes behind these states. Further questions analyze habits and systems, asking which routines or practices supported progress and which tools did not work as hoped. Listeners should consider where they overcommitted and what helped them stay organized and grounded. The reflection then shifts to learning, with questions about what the quarter taught regarding how one works best and what was learned about personal priorities. The final questions look ahead to the next quarter, asking what one would like the upcoming three months to feel like. Listeners are prompted to decide what they want to do more of and less of in Q2. Linder emphasizes that it is still early enough in the year to make significant adjustments or pivots. A memorable insight is Linder's personal reflection that her proudest achievements are often private matters she would not necessarily share with others. She frames quarterly reflection as a tool for "culling" goals and reprioritizing, not just pushing forward. The host reminds listeners that time is a social construct, offering permission to reset plans at any point. The episode concludes with a forward-looking question: if the next quarter were to go really well, what would look and feel different? Linder announces she will return next week with an update on her own 70-plus goals for 2026. The tone is conversational, educational, and supportive, acting as a guided coaching session. The style is structured and practical, with Linder speaking directly to the listener as if leading a workshop. This episode is ideal for academic professionals or any listener who enjoys structured self-reflection, goal-setting, and personal productivity frameworks. Individuals who prefer narrative storytelling or are not interested in introspective planning exercises might choose to skip it.

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