This post was originally published on December 29, 2019 and updated on December 27, 2022.
As the end of the year draws to a close, we could all really benefit from doing some inner reflective work on our experiences over the past 12 months to help move us forward into the New Year. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on your life and inner journey, what did – or didn’t – happen over the past year. It also helps you to see how far you’ve come and bring awareness to things that still need some work.
Reflecting on what happened during the year, what you accomplished, and what could have been done better will bring closure to the year and will also provide the space for valuable learning.
When you are ready to close the chapter of the previous year, you can move on to the future with a clean slate.
By doing this work, you allow yourself to grow. You can leave what no longer serves you behind and embrace what you want to take with you into your future.
End of Year Review
To start your end-of-year reflection, you’ll need:
- A quiet, comfortable space where you can sit down and be uninterrupted for at least an hour (or longer if you choose)
- Your journal or a few blank pages of lined paper
- A pen or pencil
The following are some reflective questions that you might use in your journal writing to reflect back on your year. Be as detailed as possible and don’t worry about spelling mistakes, grammar, conflicting thoughts, or mixed emotions—just start writing as the words come to you and don’t stop until nothing else comes to you.
1. How has your life changed over the past year?
2. What went well?
3. How do you feel about the past year?
4. What are you thankful for and appreciate from the past year?
5. What have you learned about yourself?
6. What are you most proud of? And why?
7. In what ways have you grown or expanded as a person?
8. What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?
9. What were the best 3 moments of the year?
10. What challenges did you experience?
11. What would you like to leave behind?
12. What areas of your life did you focus the most energy on?
13. What were some of the experiences that brought you the most happiness?
14. When did you feel inspired, alive or excited this year and why?
15. When did you feel at your lowest this year and why?
16. What are your biggest accomplishments?
17. What was an unexpected joy or gift received this past year?
18. What are your top words to describe this past year?
19. What things did you create this year?
20. What did you think about or dream about the most?
21. What activities made you lose track of time?
22. What little things did you enjoy doing most during your day to day life?
23. What positive new habits did you cultivate?
24. What worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?
25. Would you have done anything differently?
26. What was the biggest thing you learned this year?
27. What were your ‘aha’ moments?
28. Did you achieve your goals and/or intentions for this year?
29. Does anything feel incomplete or left undone from last year?
30. Have your tastes or interests changed over the past year?
31. Did you enjoy learning about something new? If so, what?
32. On a scale from 1 to 10 how would you rank your year?
I invite you to spend some time in reflection. Use my questions or come up with your own. Looking back at your past year will help to ensure that your intentions for next year are truly in line with your dreams and desires.
Until next time, keep on keeping on!
