1. It helps you learn from your mistakes.
If we don’t reflect on our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them. And that’s not very smart. However, if we reflect on those mistakes, figure out what went wrong, see how we can prevent them in the future, we can use our mistakes to get better. Mistakes, then, are a valuable learning tool, instead of something to feel embarrassed or upset about. Reflection is an important way to do that.
2. It gives you great ideas.
Like I said, every single post idea that I have for Zen Habits (or other blogs I write for) comes from reflection. Basically, I reflect on things that I’m doing or that are going on in my life. If things aren’t going well, I learn stuff I can share with others. If I reflect on something that’s a success for me, I think about how I got that success, and share that too. I’ve had hundreds of great ideas this year from reflection.
3. It helps you help others.
4. It makes you happier.
5. It gives you perspective.

How to Make Reflection a Daily Habit

1. Start a one-sentence journal.
2. Focus on doing it at the same time, every day.
3. Exercise.
4. Think about your day, your work, your life.
5. Write about it publicly.

This list has been severely abridged. To read the full list, view the original post at it’s source:
5 Powerful Reasons to Make Reflection a Daily Habit, and How to Do It (ZenHabits)