As I approach the end of 2025, I'm excited to dive into one of my favorite yearly traditions: looking back at what happened and discovering what I can learn from it. Whether this year brought you unexpected opportunities, new challenges, or surprising pivots, there's always something valuable to uncover when we take time to reflect.

I know many of us have experienced “challenges and surprising pivots” and you may be reluctant to reflect on those.  Trust me on this.  It’s worth looking back on those as you may be surprised on what you learn.

As I close out this year, I’m also noticing how gratitude shows up in unexpected places – and I'm eager to explore that with you.  While I’m not big on the “gratitude journal” trend, I’m starting to appreciate the benefits of discovering things to be thankful for.

Over my 20+ years of doing personal annual reviews, I've discovered some useful ways to reflect and plan. I'll share some of my favorites here, whether you're new to this practice or looking to refresh your own approach.

What is a Personal Annual Review?

A personal annual review is your chance to explore what's shifted in your work, family, health, and relationships. You might discover surprising growth in unexpected areas, notice patterns that are ready for change, or celebrate the stability you've maintained (because sometimes "steady" is exactly what we need!).

I discovered this practice over 20 years ago through an executive coach at my company. His simple worksheet sparked insights I hadn't expected. It helped me spot patterns in how I handled stress and revealing opportunities I'd overlooked. Most importantly, it showed me how I could actively shape my upcoming year rather than just hoping for the best.

My review has evolved over the years. My friend Jean Tabaka gifted me the powerful question: "What do you want to let go of for next year?” This has become my anchor question even when time is tight. Also, my friend Tonianne DeMaria opened my eyes to energy management, inspiring me to track what (and who) energizes me versus what drains me. These insights from Jean and Tonianne have become key parts of my reflection practice.

Finding Your Best Time for Reflection

Here's what I've learned: reflection works best in layers. Even when I had three young children creating beautiful chaos at home, I'd grab 15 to 30-minute windows for specific questions. Then flashes of insight would bubble up the next day while making coffee or taking a walk.

Now I intentionally design my reflection process this way: review a few questions, answer some questions, let them percolate for a couple days, then return with a fresh perspective. Sometimes I’ll change my answers based on my reflections. My annual review typically unfolds over 2-3 weeks, which turns out to be perfect for deeper insights. 

I love starting in mid-November and wrapping up in late December. The early sessions explore the year through different lenses, while later sessions focus on what I want to embrace and release for the coming year. This "season of reflection" has become something I genuinely look forward to.

Finding Your Best Place for Reflection

Your environment shapes your insights. With this in mind, I’ve claimed certain spots in my home for reflection. These places always have natural light, and some allow me to gaze out at the garden. One of our sons discovered his sweet spot is a local park bench or a nearby bridge at sunset.

I'm a morning person, so I protect those golden early hours when my mind is fresh, and the world is quiet. Of course, it includes a fresh cup of coffee.  These days, focus mode on my devices is my friend as I prefer to capture thoughts electronically. You might choose a paper journal for its simplicity and lack of notifications.

Important tip: I write my reflections as if explaining to a friend.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big journal user.  So writing to someone else helps me capture the important nuances and stay connected to why things matter.

What About Your Review?

I'm curious about your reflection practice! Do you have a favorite approach? A special time or place that works for you? Are you using Large Language Models as part of your reflection? I’d love to hear about it.

If you're ready to start or refresh your personal annual review process, I'm here to help. Use this free worksheet with some questions perfect for navigating change. As a thank-you to my newsletter community, I'm opening up 5 spots on my calendar for guided reflection sessions. Sign up here, and we'll spend an hour together exploring your insights on 2025 and intentions for 2026.  There is no charge for this reflection session this year.

This is exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. You’re the community that makes this work meaningful. Thank you for being here.

Stay human my friends,

Mark