Your Year-in-Review Exercise

Looking back on the past year is a simple but powerful way to get clear on your life—where your energy has gone, what’s felt meaningful, what’s felt draining, and, most importantly, what actually happened. Plus, the insights you uncover can help you design your next year with intention, using what you’ve learned to guide your choices moving forward.

Take some time this week to reflect on your 2024. I recommend approaching this by both creating a timeline and journaling through the prompts down below—but if you feel like it’d be more helpful and practical for you to do one over the other and still experience the full benefits of the exercise, feel free to do so!

Create a Timeline

Creating a timeline is a great way to visually capture the events, patterns, and feelings that defined your year. Watch the video above for a more thorough explanation, and then use the description below to jog your memory as you complete the process.

1) Set Up Your Timeline

Start by deciding how you want to create your timeline. You can draw it on paper, map it out in a notebook, or use an online tool like Canva to create a digital version.

• Draw a long horizontal line and divide it into 12 sections, one for each month of the year.
• Leave plenty of space under or above each month for notes, photos, or other details you’ll add as you reflect.

2) Plot Key Events

Go through each month and think about the events that happened, related to family, work, travel, or anything else that feels meaningful. Write them along the timeline in the appropriate section.

Events you might include:

• Birthdays or anniversaries
• Career achievements, new jobs, or big projects
• Trips or vacations you took
• Moving, getting a pet, or experiencing loss
• Health milestones, like starting a new routine, recovering from an illness, or hitting a fitness goal
• Relationships, such as starting or ending relationships, reconnecting with someone, or milestones in friendships or family
• Creative projects, like starting a hobby, finishing a personal project, or pursuing a passion
• Education, including classes you took, certifications you earned, or skills you learned
• Major purchases, like a home, car, or other significant investment
• Celebrations and gatherings, such as holidays, weddings, or reunions
• Challenging periods, such as times of stress, loss, or setbacks
• Financial milestones, like paying off debt, saving for a goal, or financial challenges

3) Reflect on Smaller Details

After you’ve added the big moments, think about the smaller, more personal aspects of the year. Under each month or part of the year, note:

• How the month felt overall (e.g., "busy," "peaceful," "challenging").
• Small but meaningful moments, like reconnecting with an old friend, a quiet weekend that stood out, or a hobby you loved.
• Patterns or themes you noticed, like shifts in your habits or mindset.

4) Incorporate Visuals

Add photos, drawings, or mementos. If you’re working digitally, you can pull images from your phone or computer. If you’re working on paper, print a few photos or include symbols and doodles to represent key moments if you wish.

**Tip: Use Tools to Jog Your Memory**

If you get stuck, don’t worry—it’s normal to forget some of the details! To help spark your memory:

• Look through your phone’s camera roll for photos from each month.
• Check your calendar or planner for reminders of what you were doing.
• Revisit any journals, notes, or social media posts you made during the year.

By the end, your timeline will give you a clear, visual overview of your year. It’s a great way to see both the big picture and the smaller details that made 2024 special!

As you create your timeline (or as an alternative), I recommend answering these questions in a journal, taking time to expand on anything that feels worth exploring further.

• What were the most significant events or milestones this year? (Consider the list from “#2: Plot Key Events” above)
• How would you describe the overall feel or energy of each season or month?
• What challenges did you face, and how did you grow through them?
• What routines, habits, or activities brought you the most joy or meaning?
• Were there any patterns, behaviors, or commitments that felt draining?
• Who played an important role in your life this year, and how did those relationships evolve?
• What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2024?
• What lessons or insights did this year teach you about yourself or your priorities?
• What do you want to carry forward into 2025, and what do you want to leave behind?