The case for a better "Annual Review"
Every December, we're bombarded with media telling us to do more, achieve more, and become more. This type of reflection so often stems from a place of lack.
If you're considering an annual review this season, we invite you do it from a place of authenticity. It's an invitation to pause, reconnect with your true self, and lead from a place of wholeness.
And, because we love you all, we're sharing the entire structure of A²'s Annual Reflection in this post and the next. Feel free to use this to guide your own reflection this season. If you do, we'd love to hear what you think.
Shoutout to Downshift for the inspiration.
Feeling busy? Join us for A²'s Annual Review Retreat!
If you're oversubscribed during this busy season and struggle to find time to reflect (I know I do!), I invite you to join us for a guided half-day retreat to pause, reconnect with intuition, connect deeply with others, and reflect from a place of inner guidance.
We'll be working through the exact structure shared in this post in a guided session, alternating between deep, individual work and group sharing to foster connection and insight. You'll leave feeling grounded, refreshed, and connected!
The Authentic Annual Review (pt. 1)
This is an invitation to approach your annual review with intention and ease. Instead of hustling for what’s next, we invite you to shift your focus to aligning with what truly matters in your life. It’s a chance to explore possibilities from a place of “being” rather than “doing”.
The Authentic Annual Review has 6 parts. We'll focus on the first 3 today.
- Gather Memories
- Learnings
- Current Life
- Edit
- Looking Ahead
- Letter to Self
A few notes on getting started
Here's a few ways to best support yourself during this process:
- Take your time to let it unfold.
- Find a quiet, distraction-free space to reflect in.
- Invite community to do the reflection together (you can also join us!).
- Be present. Unplug from distractions.
- Approach this reflection with curiosity and kindness.
- Pause if you need to - step away, breathe, and don't force it.
Alright, let's get into it!
1. Gather Memories
❗Grab data sources to jog your memory of what happened the past year. These can include:
- Calendars
- Journals
- Social media
- Email
- Photos
- Health data
- Travel history
- Books & media
- Messaging apps
- Purchases
Then, complete the following reflections:
- In a journal, list out the major milestones that shaped 2024, by month
- If your year was a movie or a book, what would its title be
- Looking at your list, which moments felt the most impactful and why?
- What patterns, themes, or stories begin to emerge as you review the year's milestones?
2. Learnings
❗Remember, the goal is to explore from a place of curiosity. Be patient and take your time to uncover the gems hidden within your year.
Complete the following reflections:
- What am I most proud of, personally and professionally?
- What new habits and/or skills did I develop this year, and how have they impacted me?
- How am I different based on what I experienced this year?
- What goals or intentions did I set but not accomplish? What got in the way?
- What stories or beliefs have limited me this year? (e.g., “I’m not talented enough,” “I’ll fail if I try,” “I don’t have enough time or money,” etc.)
- Are there obstacles or patterns I sense are still keeping me stuck? How might I begin to address them?
- What regrets do I have from this year? (e.g., avoided a discussion, stayed in my job, etc.)
- Who had a positive impact on me and my life? How did they impact me?
- Who held me back and/or drained me? How did they impact me?
- What behaviors or habits positively supported my health, and which ones negatively impacted it?
- When did I feel the most energized this year, and what contributed to that energy?
- When did I feel the most depleted, and what patterns or circumstances led to that?
- What physical or emotional pain did I experience this year, and what lessons did it teach me?
- What 3-5 words or phrases would I use to describe 2024? (e.g., stressed, chaotic, inspired, growth, sobriety, etc.)
3. Current Life
Take a moment to reflect on the key areas of your life and assess how satisfied you feel in each one. Reflect on these as you feel in the current moment, not what you hope to feel.
Here's how it works:
- Rate each life dimension from 1 - 10. 1 means "highly unsatisfield" and 10 means "highly satisfied".
- Feel free to add, edit, split, or remove categories in a way that feels authentic to your life.
- After scoring, use the comments column to jot down observations or details that surface.
Now, reflect on your life dimensions.
- What stands out from this exercise?
- Which areas do you want to focus on in 2025?
We're here to support you
Reflections can bring up a lot - expected and unexpected. If you have questions, could use some support, have an insight to share, or feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at yashassingri@gmail.com.
Feeling busy? Join us for A²'s Annual Review Retreat!
If you're oversubscribed during this busy season and struggle to find time to reflect (I know I do!), I invite you to join us for a guided half-day retreat to pause, reconnect with intuition, connect deeply with others, and reflect from a place of inner guidance.
We'll be working through the exact structure shared in this post in a guided session, alternating between deep, individual work and group sharing to foster connection and insight. You'll leave feeling grounded, refreshed, and connected!
Spaces are limited. If you feel called, we encourage you to apply. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
If you have other friends/people in your network you think would be a good fit, please forward them this email and/or let me know.