An Annual Review

Once a year, it’s good to take a look at how things are going in different areas of your life. This big picture view let’s you evaluate how things are going and plan for what’s next. Download the free Keep It Super Simple Annual Review form pdf. See also PLANS for an Annual Review.

Part I – Review the past year

• Look for GEMs in the results of weekly and monthly reviews from last year.
  • Goals achieved: What were the biggest accomplishments of the past year? How many goals set for the previous year were completed? Was there good work/life balance? How have you grown or developed?
  • Exploration: What were the best trips taken, events attended, expeditions, and adventures?
  • Milestones and Media: Was there a significant change or progress? What were the best books, quotes, or articles read, and tv, videos, or movies watched?
• Look at time LOST
  • Lessons learned: what did you discover?
  • Obstacles and challenges: what prevented progress?
  • Solutions: what will you change? how can you add motivation and increase focus and flow?
  • Time wasted: what were the biggest distractions and sources of procrastination?
• Regular weekly or monthly reviews provide invaluable information for an annual review.
  • Set a time and day that works in your schedule
  • Take notes (on calendar, or with tools for tracking below)
  • Examine and evaluate progress
  • Prepare for next steps

Part II – Review mission – vision – purpose – values – goals

• Review your personal mission statement. Does it still reflect your values and pinpoint what you do and why (purpose), or does it need to be updated? If you update it, how does that impact your goals?
• Review your vision. What the world will look like if you succeed in your mission to solve a problem. What goal choices will produce value and move you closer to your vision? 
• Review your goals: Are your goals innovative and audacious? Are they big enough while still being realistic? Are you undertaking too much or not enough? How can you move from good to great? Are you still excited about them, or is it time to choose some new ones? (See Part IV- PLAN below)
• Find more infomation at Purpose Planning, and tools at the Brand & Purpose Toolkit.

Part III – Review your system, routine, and workspace

• Review your task management system. Does it still work well for you? Consider doing a time audit to see how you are spending your time.
• Examine efficiency. Are there changes you could make to increase efficiency?
• View your routine. Are you making the most of the way you use your days?
• Implement improvements. How can you improve? Are there ways you can implement the Science of Productivity, increase energy, and work smarter?
• Explore options. Learn more about productivity at Time Management 101.
• Workspace – is your workspace designed efficiently? Is your office organized? Do you have an effective filing system to manage papers and information? Is your desk ergonomic?

Part IV – PLANS for the upcoming year

• Prepare a plan: Choose goals in different life areas. Create written habit plans for the habits you wish to create. Other goals may require planning to make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based). Learn more about how to set goals, find ideas for goals, and more tools for goals.
• Look for top priorities. The Goal Shift Chart at Choosing Goals is a simple way to identify priorities. For a more in-depth status report, check out the Life Area Energy Level Gauge. It is similar to the Wheel of Life, but is quicker, easier, and gives a better overview.
• Add action steps. Break large goals into smaller steps.
• Note measures. Measures matter, so look for meaningful metrics to track. Some ideas for metrics and tools to track them are listed below. Attempting to track too much can be overwhelming, so choose carefully.
• Select calendars and any updated lists to print if desired. Remember to keep goals visual and visible.

Download the Review & Plan pdf with ideas for metrics to track plus steps for daily, weekly, monthly & annual reviews.

Ideas for metrics to track for an annual review:

• Mental: goals achieved, books read, classes taken
• Career: Work projects completed, time audit of productivity
• Financial: Income, savings, investments, net worth
• Physical: weight, body mass index, blood pressure
• Recreational: trips taken, new activities tried, screen time
• Organizational: rooms decluttered, home projects completed, new recipes tried
• Relationships: activities with family and friends, loving actions for closer relationships
• Emotional: Acts of kindness, emotional intelligence score
• Social: group activities, new people met, donations
• Character: volunteer activities, creative work
• Purpose: time spent in flow or contributing w/talents, Work/Life balance score
• Spiritual: frequency of prayer, meditation, gratitude

Tools for Tracking Metrics

Download the Annual Metrics Chart pdf

more free printables:

The Weekly & Monthly Review Tracker

• The Weekly & Monthly Review Tracker (see above) is one page with two forms for tracking reviews. Pair the tracker with the Review & Plan pdf.
• A habit tracker and other printables at Tools to Plan an Awesome New Year.
• A time audit chart from the Daily PlanIt.
• the Annual Review Grid pdf.
• The Annual Planner from the Daily PlanIt is also still available. It is a free 9 page pdf booklet with forms to capture the results of weekly and monthly reviews for a year. It includes weekly and monthly review action steps & review questions, ideas for metrics, and an annual chart to record progress.
• The Annual Calendar from Vertex42 is great for planning and tracking progress.

Apps:

• Wearable fitness trackers automate metrics on sleep and activity.
• There are many habit tracker apps to track a variety of metrics: see Apps for Happiness and Personal Development.
• Financial metrics can be tracked with an app like Mint.

The Annual Review Planner Binder includes Productivity Tools for a System & Routine, Goal Tools for Review, Brand & Purpose Tools for Focus. Or you can get 27 tools in the Annual Review Toolkit to stay on top of regular reviews and on target with goals that align with your values. If you want to keep it super simple, there is a one page form at Paused, or On Hold?

To learn more about setting and acheiving goals, check out the free Daily PlanIt short course on How to Set Goals, and my eBook, “Get Goaling.

See also:

• “How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review” at The Art of Non-Conformity
• 8,760 Hours from alexvermeer.com
• “Conducting an Annual Self Review” at quintcareers.
• Your Year in Review: 50 Questions to Help You Reflect…at into-mind.com
• 50+ Better Questions to Ask Than How to be More Productive at Productive Flourishing
• Think About It at franksonnenbergonline.com

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.