A Year-End Review That Will Help You Win the Year Ahead

Planning mode is on for this year. Champagne (or sparkling cider) has been  popped, resolutions made, and many of us are already starting on our goals for the upcoming twelve months. But before we get too deep into things, it’s important we look back at last year. When we take  inventory on what we accomplished, what we fell short on, and where we are at, it will help us better tackle what’s next. 

Capture the Big Moments

First, let’s think about the major milestones of the last year. What were your biggest wins or events? What about your biggest challenges or hardest seasons? Most likely there were some curveballs that came your way; add those in, too. Take a moment to write it all down. Seeing everything laid out in front of you will help you organize your thoughts about what’s to come. It’s also good to have written information to look back on from time to time so you can truly remember what happened in a year. Time moves quickly, and reflection is always helpful. 

Identify What Worked

Once you’ve written down the key moments of your past year, think about the decisions you made during those times. What choices did you make that led to those outcomes? What did you do in the face of adversity that helped see you through to the other side? Think about habits you built, boundaries you established, and the times where you felt like your best self. Write down the things that worked the best and why. 

Learn from What Didn’t Work 

Not every move we made last year was the right one. Hindsight is 20/20, afterall. Think about some of the things that didn’t work so well last year. Times where you didn’t meet your goals,  when you felt frustrated or stuck, or if you became depleted on time and energy. Try to write it all down without too much emotion. Blaming yourself or feeling guilty for things that have already happened are the easiest ways to not move forward at all. This is just about taking inventory and making a plan for growth. Failure takes you where you’re meant to go if you hone the right practices. 

Choose What to Keep and What to Get Rid of

With last year written out in front of you, decide what you want to carry into this year and what you want to leave behind. Maybe there are some people in your life who only drain you and don’t fill your cup back up. It could be time to let those relationships go. Is there anything you picked up last year that feels extra important to keep building on? Think habits, routines, commitments, people, boundaries, and reactions. Write these down, too. 

Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead

Now that you’ve gathered all of your information, it’s time to plan your future. This doesn’t need to be a detailed outline. It just needs to be one (or a few) main intentions you want to live by this year. It could be a theme, a core value, a looming goal, or prioritization of a few different things. Let this be the blueprint to guide all the smaller choices you will inevitably have to make. When the going gets tough or you’re riding on cloud nine, you can look back at your intentions and refocus on moving forward. This will make every win sweeter, and every challenge easier to tackle. 

When we take the time to inventory what we’ve already gone through, we can build on good habits and avoid repeating the same old mistakes. Let your lived experiences guide you into your next year. Our best teachers are often ourselves. It’s time we start learning from them.