Believe it or not, January is behind us and the new year has really begun.
For me, it’s been a pretty slow start. Whereas in past years, I was wrapped up with my annual review process by early Jan, this year I’m only just finding time to reflect and set a roadmap.
I’ve had to give myself a healthy dose of self-compassion along the way. It’s funny how the mind can work: creating stories that arouse guilt and frustration based on a totally made-up expectation.
I found myself feeling frustrated, at myself, for not finishing a journaling process that I set out to do, for myself.
If you ever find yourself in a similar circle of self-criticism, please take this as permission to give yourself a break. Take it easy on yourself. You can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. It’s up to you to decide.
Now back to the topic at hand: the Year in Review.
Look, I haven’t cracked the code on the perfect way to achieve amazingly ambitious goals every year. Most people I know haven’t either.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I find the process of reflection and review even more rewarding than setting goals or resolutions.
By looking at what worked and what didn't work for “past me” I can usually plot a course for “future me” that more accurately tracks to what makes me happier and more fulfilled.
For example, if I recognized that working on weekends last year crushed my energy, I can safely bet that making a plan to reduce the number of weekends I work this year will have a high ROI.
In short, reflecting on the past helps me chart a better path for the future.
In that spirit, I wanted to share a simple template below from my friend Tyler Sanchez. It’s simple, impactful, and has space for customization.
You could spend one hour and feel finished at the end, or dive deeper and complete it over a weekend. Do what feels right to you, and let me know how you get on.
Practical Wisdom
Here are the main three sections from the template Tyler uses. I love the simplicity of this fomat; it's enough to be meaningful but not so much it feels overwhelming.
What Went Well. Write down a few big things that were positive highlights from the year.
What Didn’t Go Well. It’s equally important to note a few challenges and what, if anything, you learned from the process.
What I Want to Focus More On. After reflecting on the highs and lows of the past year, ask yourself where you want to devote more time and energy in the coming year.
Other Highlights. This is a section I added, and it’s a place to note down some favorite memories or experiences of the year.
Let me know if this inspires you to do your own Year in Review!
Words of Wisdom
"We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience."
— John Dewey