Review Your Year: 3 (Mindful) Techniques

The countdown is on—7 days til Christmas, 14 til New Year’s Eve.

What happened to 2024?

Seriously, though. I feel like I blinked and the year is done.

Whether the year flew by for you, too, or felt much slower, I want to share some of my favorite ‘Year in Review’ tools that help me mindfully transition from one year to the next.

If you’re anything like me, you want to be intentional about next year, but first need to navigate the busyness, triggers, stress, and excitement that comes with the holidays.

It’s a lot.

The following practices are ones I’ve picked up over the years, and I’ve stuck with them because they’ve worked for me. I don’t always do them all, but I do at least one of them.

Pick and choose the one(s) that speak to you. Then carve out anywhere from 15-45 minutes to look back in order to move forward more intentionally.

Technique 1: The Journal Prompts—5 Questions

Open a note on your phone or grab your journal and answer the following questions regarding 2024…

• What were the highlights?
• What were the challenges or difficulties I experienced?
• What were three defining moments from the year and why did they matter?
• Going into next year, what do I want more of?
• Less of?

Technique 2: Your Camera Roll

Steps:

• Open your camera roll on your phone.
• Beginning in January, scroll through your photos and videos.
• Make note of the events or memories felt especially significant, beautiful, or joyful.
• How might you create more moments like these in 2025?

Technique 3: Review Your 2024 Calendar

Steps:

• Grab your diary (if you have a paper version) or open your calendar on your computer or phone.
• Beginning in January, make your way through the month, noting any events that either brought a lot of joy or excitement, as well as any that were difficult or felt especially draining.
• Repeat this process for the subsequent months.
• Then ask yourself: “For 2025, how might I intentionally increase the number of life-giving moments? What can I do to reduce the ‘draining’ experiences?”

Bonus Tip: Practice Self-Care

For many of us, these next couple of weeks are some of the busiest of the year.

Here’s your friendly PSA:

Don’t forget to take care of yourself in the midst of everything else going on.

Whether it’s a good workout, carving out time for your favorite hobby, a bubble bath, or even a good cry—self-care will help you finish 2024 with grace.

Don’t forget—a healthy, peaceful you makes for a better experience for those around you as well.

Cheering for you, friend!

Have a wonderful holiday season,