Annual Review Template

Comprehensive framework for reflecting on the past year and extracting wisdom for the year ahead

Why Annual Reviews Matter

An annual review is one of the highest-leverage activities you can do. It helps you recognize growth, learn from mistakes, celebrate wins, and make better decisions for the future. Without reflection, we repeat the same patterns year after year. With intentional review, we compound our learning and accelerate our progress.

Benefits of Annual Review

Gain clarity on what's truly important
Recognize progress you might have overlooked
Identify patterns in successes and failures
Make data-driven decisions for next year
Boost motivation by acknowledging growth
Course-correct before too much time passes

When to Do Your Annual Review

Best Timing

Late December: After Christmas, before New Year (Dec 26-30)
Early January: First week of new year when fresh
Your birthday: Personal new year milestone
Fiscal year-end: Align with professional cycle

Time Investment

Minimum: 2-3 hours for thoughtful reflection
Recommended: Full day retreat for deep dive
Ideal: Weekend getaway for complete immersion

Preparation for Your Review

Gather Your Data

Materials to Collect

☐ Last year's goals and resolutions
☐ Calendar from entire year
☐ Journal entries if you keep one
☐ Photos from the year
☐ Financial records and statements
☐ Work performance reviews
☐ Health data (fitness tracker, medical records)
☐ Major emails or correspondence
☐ List of books read, courses taken
☐ Travel itineraries and trip photos

Create the Right Environment

Block uninterrupted time on calendar
Find quiet space without distractions
Turn off phone and notifications
Have pen, paper, or laptop ready
Optional: calming music, tea/coffee, comfortable seating

Annual Review Template: Part 1 - Reflection

Life Area Assessment

Rate Each Area (1-10 Scale)

Score your satisfaction and progress in each life area:

Career/Professional: ___/10
Financial: ___/10
Health & Fitness: ___/10
Relationships: ___/10
Personal Growth: ___/10
Fun & Recreation: ___/10
Environment/Home: ___/10
Contribution/Impact: ___/10

Reflection: Which areas improved? Which declined? Why?

Wins and Achievements

List everything you accomplished, big and small:

What were your biggest wins this year?
What are you most proud of?
What challenges did you overcome?
What new skills did you develop?
What meaningful experiences did you have?
What relationships strengthened?
What risks paid off?

Challenges and Lessons

What were the biggest challenges?
What didn't go as planned?
What mistakes did you make?
What would you do differently?
What lessons did you learn?
What patterns do you notice?
What held you back?

Annual Review Template: Part 2 - Deep Dive Questions

Career and Professional

Did I make progress toward my career goals?
What was my most impactful work contribution?
What professional skills did I develop?
How did my income change?
Am I still on the right career path?
What opportunities did I create or miss?
How did I add value to my organization/clients?
What professional relationships did I build?

Financial

How much did I earn? How much did I save?
Did I stick to my budget?
How did my net worth change?
What was my biggest financial win?
What was my biggest financial mistake?
How much debt did I pay off or accumulate?
Did I invest? What were returns?
Where did my money go?

Health and Wellness

How is my physical health compared to last year?
Did I maintain consistent exercise?
How did my eating habits change?
What was my sleep quality like?
How is my mental health?
What health goals did I achieve?
Did I complete annual checkups?
What health habits need improvement?

Relationships

Which relationships deepened this year?
Which relationships faded or ended?
Did I invest enough time in important people?
What was my biggest relationship challenge?
Who had the biggest impact on my life?
Did I meet new people aligned with my goals?
How was my romantic relationship/dating life?
Did I show up for family when it mattered?

Personal Growth

How many books did I read?
What new skills did I learn?
What courses or workshops did I complete?
How did I challenge myself?
What limiting beliefs did I overcome?
How did I invest in personal development?
What creative projects did I pursue?
Did I step outside my comfort zone?

Annual Review Template: Part 3 - Metrics

Quantifiable Progress

Year in Numbers

Track concrete metrics to see real progress:

Books read: ___
Workouts completed: ___
Weight change: ___ lbs
Income: $___
Savings: $___
Debt paid: $___
Travel destinations: ___
New skills learned: ___
Date nights with partner: ___
Days meditated: ___
Projects completed: ___
Courses finished: ___

Annual Review Template: Part 4 - Gratitude

Appreciation Exercise

Cultivate gratitude for the year's gifts:

What are you most grateful for this year?
Who made a positive difference in your life?
What unexpected blessings occurred?
What privileges or advantages do you have?
What difficult situations taught you something valuable?

100 Gratitudes Exercise

Challenge: List 100 things you're grateful for from this year. Go beyond the obvious. Include small moments, lessons from challenges, people who helped, opportunities that arose, and personal growth.

Annual Review Template: Part 5 - Goal Analysis

Review Last Year's Goals

For Each Goal, Ask:

Did I achieve it? Why or why not?
Was it the right goal?
What got in the way?
What helped me progress?
Is it still relevant?

Goal Achievement Categories:

Crushed it: Exceeded expectations
Achieved: Met the goal
Partial: Made progress but fell short
Didn't pursue: Never really tried
Changed mind: No longer wanted it

Extract Goal Insights

What type of goals energized me?
What goals drained me?
Did I set too many or too few goals?
Were my goals specific and measurable enough?
What accountability structures worked?
What was my biggest obstacle to goal achievement?

Annual Review Template: Part 6 - Time Analysis

Time Audit

Reflect on how you spent your time:

What activities took most of my time?
Was my time allocation aligned with my priorities?
What was my biggest time waste?
What brought me the most joy?
What drained my energy?
How much time did I spend on:

Work: ___ hours/week average
Family: ___ hours/week
Friends: ___ hours/week
Exercise: ___ hours/week
Learning: ___ hours/week
Entertainment: ___ hours/week

Annual Review Template: Part 7 - Identity Evolution

Who You Are Becoming

Identity Questions

How have I changed as a person this year?
What do I believe now that I didn't believe before?
What habits define me now?
How do I see myself differently?
What parts of my identity strengthened?
What parts am I letting go of?
Who am I becoming?

Annual Review Template: Part 8 - Forward Looking

Insights for Next Year

What do I want to do more of next year?
What do I want to do less of?
What do I want to start?
What do I want to stop?
What patterns do I want to break?
What new habits do I want to build?
What relationships do I want to prioritize?
What skills do I want to develop?

Theme for Next Year

Instead of or in addition to resolutions, choose a guiding theme:

Example themes: Growth, Balance, Adventure, Connection, Health, Simplicity, Focus, Abundance
Your theme: What word or phrase captures what you want next year to be about?

One-Page Annual Review Template

Quick Annual Review Format

Year: _____

Top 3 Wins:

1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________

Top 3 Lessons:

1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________

Most Grateful For:

_________________________________

Biggest Challenge Overcome:

_________________________________

Next Year Theme:

_________________________________

Do More Of:

_________________________________

Do Less Of:

_________________________________

Making Your Review Actionable

From Insights to Action

Document everything: Write or type all reflections
Identify patterns: Look for recurring themes
Extract lessons: Turn experiences into principles
Set intentions: Use insights to inform next year's goals
Share selectively: Discuss key insights with trusted people
Schedule follow-up: Calendar quarterly mini-reviews

The Power of Reflection

Your annual review is a gift you give yourself. It transforms a year's worth of experiences into wisdom, helps you recognize growth you might have missed, and provides clarity for the year ahead. Invest a few hours in reflection, and you'll compound your learning and accelerate your progress for years to come.