Understanding the meaning of reflective practice is the first step towards making reflection part of everyday life. On this page, we’ll explain what reflective practice is, how to do it, and the benefits it can bring.
What is reflective practice?
In a nutshell, it is the process of thinking about your experiences so that you can learn from them. Rather than moving from one task to the next, it involves stepping back to evaluate what you did, why you did it, and how you can improve it in the future.
Reflection is a very personal process, and some people might describe it as ‘introspection’, ‘contemplation’, or ‘soul-searching.’ You can use reflective practice to support your professional development and also for your personal learning and growth.
Why is reflective practice important?
Self-reflection is about more than thinking about what you did. It’s like holding a mirror up to yourself, allowing you to pause, take in what you see, and decide what to do next.
Instead of walking through life on autopilot, regular reflective practice helps you break out of unhelpful routines and make conscious choices for your life based on your values.
Here’s why reflective practice matters. It can help you to:
- build self-awareness;
- grow continually as a person;
- take action aligned with your core values;
- make better decisions;
- improve your wellbeing.
By examining your actions, decisions, and emotions, you can identify strengths, uncover hidden biases, and keep improving your skills. The idea is that true learning comes not just from doing, but from thinking deeply about what you did.
How to do reflective practice
The truth is, there isn’t one specific way to do reflective practice. Some people reflect out loud, while others prefer to do their soul-searching in private.
If you’re new to being reflective, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, several reflective practice models can help guide you through the process.
Models of reflective practice
If you’re new to reflection, it can be hard to know where to start.
You could try using a reflective model or experimenting with different ways of capturing and exploring your thoughts.
Schön’s reflective model distinguishes between reflecting while something is happening (“reflection-in-action”) and looking back afterwards (“reflection-on-action”).
Gibbs’s reflective cycle takes you through six stages: describing what happened, considering your feelings, evaluating the experience, analysing it, identifying what you learned and deciding what you might do next.
Borton’s model offers an even simpler approach, based on three questions:
- What? What happened?
- So what? What did you learn from the experience?
- Now what? What could you do next?
Reflective practice examples
As mentioned, there is no single ‘right’ way to practise reflection. The goal is to find a method that works for your personal style.
For many people, journaling in a notebook or app can uncover patterns or themes in their behaviour, decisions, or daily life. Some may find it easier to process their thoughts by talking out loud, so recording a voice note might work better.
In contrast, others may prefer to talk through their experiences with a mentor, colleague, friend, or coach to discover new perspectives they may have missed on their own.
Reflecting regularly helps you develop the habit, allowing you to build on what you learn over time.
What are the benefits of self-reflection?
Having a reflective practice can support your growth both personally and professionally.
Some of the many benefits include:
- improving your self-awareness;
- challenging your assumptions;
- helping you change negative self-talk;
- guiding you to areas to improve on or develop;
- helping you be more creative;
- broadening your perspectives;
- supporting a healthy work-life balance.
Coaching to support reflective practice
Life coaching provides you with a dedicated space, time, and structure for you to pause and evaluate your experiences. Through thoughtful questioning, active listening, and reframing, a coach can help you break out of autopilot, challenge unquestioned assumptions, and move from reacting to responding with intention.
Life Coach Directory lists verified coaches across the UK, letting you search by location, coaching style, and accessibility to find someone who can support you in developing a reflective practice. You can search for a coach today using our search tool.
Reflective practice FAQs
Do I need a special notebook for reflective practice?
No, you do not. Any blank or lined notebook or pad works, or you could use the Notes app on your phone or computer.
How often should I practise self-reflection?
There’s no ‘correct’ frequency to practice self-reflection; you may find it helpful to start with brief daily reflection for 5-10 minutes a day. Consistency is key to building a habit.
What might stop me from practising self-reflection?
Reflective practice often requires a time commitment, self-motivation, and self-awareness. It can be more challenging to start reflective journaling if you feel short of time or exhausted from the day. However, setting aside some space each day could help you get into a regular habit.
Self-reflection for moving forward
Reflective practice isn’t about dwelling on mistakes or striving for perfection. It’s about allowing yourself to pause, learn, and make more intentional choices moving forward.
Whether you use a journal, a reflection model, or conversations with a coach, a few minutes of reflection can strengthen your self-awareness and confidence over time.
If you’d like support developing a reflective practice, a coach can provide the guidance, accountability, and perspective you need to turn insight into meaningful, lasting change.
