How to Complete Your Own Annual Review (And Why You Should)

The Importance of an Annual Review and How It Can Inform Your Year Ahead

An annual review allows you to reflect on your successes, failures, and lessons learned from the past year.
It helps you uncover hidden insights and important lessons that you can apply to the coming year.
Despite the busyness of the holiday season, an annual review is an opportunity to discover what may have been overlooked and gain insights for the future.
Taking time for reflection is often neglected but can provide valuable information for personal growth.
An annual review can be a catalyst for positive change, leading you to seek a more fulfilling job or reconnect with loved ones.
It helps you celebrate and recognize your accomplishments, big or small, that may have been forgotten amidst the pursuit of new goals.
Overcoming the fear of reflection allows you to objectively assess your year, understand why certain things happened, and identify areas for improvement.
Through the review, you can set realistic and ambitious goals for the upcoming year based on your past achievements and benchmarks.
It enables you to approach goal-setting with curiosity rather than criticism, leading to more attainable and meaningful resolutions.

There are different ways to conduct an annual review, such as reviewing concrete goals, reviewing month-by-month documentation, or reviewing each important area of your life.
Having access to information and data from the past year is crucial for an effective annual review.
Setting up systems to document different aspects of your life can help with future annual reviews.
The annual review should focus more time on the areas that are most important to you or will be a priority in the upcoming year.
Writing down notes and answers to prompts is beneficial during the annual review process.
When reflecting on work, consider whether you are progressing professionally or feeling stagnant.
Productivity should be assessed in the context of what it allows you to do with your time and attention.
Consider your overall wellbeing, including physical, emotional, and mental health.
Evaluate your financial progress, including goals, budgeting, and spending habits.

Consider the meaningful moments and conversations with friends and family.
Reflect on the time spent with loved ones and prioritize their presence in your life.
Explore ways to create connection and community if lacking in your life.
Reflect on the learning experiences and growth throughout the year.
Count personal learnings about yourself and life beyond formal education.
Take time to examine work, productivity, health, finances, relationships, and learning.
Avoid dwelling on shortcomings or challenges, but focus on what you have accomplished.
Recognize that the annual review helps in understanding oneself and desires in life.