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- Effective Annual Reflection
Happy December! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, right? As we approach the end of the year, it’s natural to get excited about drafting New Year’s resolutions and planning for a fresh start. But productivity experts like Tim Ferriss and James Clear actually argue that jumping straight into planning misses a crucial step: reflecting on the year that’s just passed. Resolutions often fail because they lack grounding in reality, while retrospectives allow us to set more realistic goals.
Personally, I’ve found this practice works really great. Every December, I take the time to conduct a personal annual retrospective before setting goals for the new year. I strongly suggest that you try it this year. So here are more details on how to do so.
THE THEORY
Experts agree: retrospectives matter more than resolutions. Tim Ferriss’s Past Year Review (PYR) involves auditing your calendar week by week to identify positive and negative experiences. This helps you schedule more of what works and eliminate what doesn’t. Similarly, James Clear’s Annual Review uses three reflective questions: What went well? What didn’t? What am I working towards? Both methods prioritize understanding patterns and auditing reality first, before setting new goals.
The science of self-reflection. Peter Drucker’s Managing Oneself reminds us that self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal and professional growth. By analyzing our past experiences, we can identify our strengths, weaknesses, and what truly motivates us. This aligns with Positive Psychology, which emphasizes focusing on what works well to build systems for sustainable success. When we intentionally look back, we set ourselves up for meaningful progress.
It’s about trends, not just tasks. A proper review isn’t limited to achievements. It’s about recognizing the themes in your life. What gave you energy? What drained you? Identifying these patterns provides clarity on how to prioritize your time and energy in the year ahead.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
Photos are a great way to remember the past. For a couple of years, my December routine has included a personal retrospective, and it’s been great for guiding my goals. While I use my calendar as a starting point, I also rely on my photo albums to jog my memory and add emotional depth to the process. Those pictures often remind me of small but meaningful moments that would otherwise slip through the cracks. [Side note: I definitely took this idea from somewhere, but I just can't remember where]
I’ve found that combining reflection with resolutions is the real key to growth. It’s not about choosing one over the other. Retrospectives provide the data, and resolutions become the roadmap for turning insights into action. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share step-by-step guidance on how to create an actionable plan for the new year.
HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE
Set aside time for reflection. Dedicate an hour to review your year. Block out distractions and gather your calendar, journal, and photo albums to help you remember key moments.
Create a weekly review table. Open a spreadsheet with 52 rows (one for each week) and columns for "High" and "Low." This keeps the process organized.
Do a 1-minute audit per week. Spend one minute per week reviewing your calendar and photo albums. Note down highlights and low points. This breaks a tedious task into manageable chunks.
Celebrate your wins. Once you’ve completed your review, take time to appreciate the positives. Share memorable photos with loved ones or reflect on themes like personal growth or relationships.
Analyze your negatives. Look for recurring themes in the lows. These patterns can help you identify what to avoid or improve in the future.
Plan for improvement. Use the insights from your review to shape your goals for the coming year. In simple terms, try to do more of the positives and find ways to eliminate or minimize the negatives.
Integrate this into your routine. Going forward, consider setting aside one minute per week to record highs and lows. This builds a habit of reflection and makes your year-end review even easier.
“Reflection is the foundation for growth.” By dedicating time to look back, you can create a clearer, more intentional path forward.
But "Don't look back in anger," I heard you say,
Jorge Luis Pando
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