Any time is a great time to refresh your day + live your best life. Whether you are wanting to make plans for the new year or to looking make a change part way through. These end of year review questions will help you gain clarity so you can focus on your best goals.

End of Year Review : refresh your day + live your best life + free printables at byjacquiesmith.com

If you’re new here, welcome. I’m Jacqui, a work-at-home-schooling mum. When I talk about setting goals + projects for the year ahead, it’s not all formal + strict. This is about finding focus to do what matters most + live a life of purpose with those you love.

I will admit, I enjoy making plans. As long as I can remember I’ve set myself goals for different areas of my life. Some years I hit them, others not so much. What I have learnt is that the secret to making better goals, ones that don’t leave you overwhelmed or anxious, is to look back on the year gone by. And that’s what we’re doing today.

Reflection is the secret to finding focus.

These end of year review questions will help you collect the information you need to connect to your best life. They will help you know what to focus on. We can’t do it all + live a life that energises us.

Writing down our thoughts + plans helps us gain clarity. So if you’re looking for some cute planner note pages, you’re welcome to download these note pages free. Let’s dive in!

End of Year Review

Step 1 : Check In

First we’re going to do a little check in to see how we’re doing in the broader categories of our life. Of course you can add or delete any that don’t apply. On a line numbered from 0 to 10 mark how satisfied you are in that area of your life right now. 0 means you’re not satisfied at all, while a 10 means you’re doing awesome!

Check In categories:

  • daily habits
  • family
  • friends
  • faith
  • mental + physical health
  • finances
  • work
  • play
  • environment

Here’s a free Check In printable to help you plot your answers 🙂

Don’t get stuck on the areas where things aren’t as good as you’d like them to be. It’s only when we acknowledge where things are at that we can make the changes we desire.

Take a moment + recognise the truth of your situation. These are the places where you can find new joy + areas for growth.

You’re welcome to share a little or much of your answers in the comments below. Some of my check in numbers are …

Mental + physical health – 7
I find the change of seasons a challenge when it comes to exercise. I’m naturally an early riser and the winter months mess with my early morning walk. The cold air affects me so I decided to switch up my daily routine to ensure I still got the important things in.

It was my second year of consistent daily gratitude journalling. I grew in my approach as I changed from noting three in the morning, three in the evening + expand on one point, to picking one thing and writing at least 5 sentences about it. I enjoyed going deeper with why something was so valuable or how someone was a blessing to me. I’m more mindful of my thoughts. And that has helped to make better choices. You’re welcome to take the 5 for 2 Gratitude Challenge + see what it does for you.

Finances – 4
While we are in a good place financially, I really got our of routine with keeping the accounts up to date this year. Having a habit of putting off what isn’t exciting, although necessary, is something I’m changing in the new year. One thing that I didn’t plan for was the slow conversion from paper bills + statement to receiving them electronically. My processes need an update.

Step 2 : Going a Little Deeper

This is the opportunity to go a little deeper. With your cute note paper + favourite pen, answer the following questions honestly. Note the good, the very good + the not so good. This is comprehensive list, simply answer all that apply to you

Questions that we ask ourselves can shape our perception of who we are, what we’re capable of and what we’re willing to do to achieve our dreams. Tony Robbins

I love to count my blessings. Cultivating gratitude has literally changed my life, from the inside out. It’s helped me be more aware of my thoughts + the good things that happen in my life. But I also know that not being real about where things are at stops us from getting to where we long to be.

I always remember a saying of Dr Phil’s, “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge”. This one quote helps me to face the not so good when I’d rather ignore it.

It’s as we look to the past, noting the good + the not so good, that we find what we need to move forward + create a life we love to live. It’s the easiest way I’ve found to do more of what works + less of what doesn’t.

So leave nothing hidden, go all in!

# Tip : You may want to look to your journal, calendar, planner, photos, memory keeping projects and even your bank statements for inspiration on what filled your life for the past year.

End of Year Review Questions :

  • What are your favourite memories?
  • What felt successful?
  • What did you accomplish?
  • What did you make progress on?
  • What outstanding goals, unfinished business or projects did you have?
  • Why do you think you didn’t achieve them?
  • What worked well?
  • What didn’t work well?
  • What challenges did you face?
  • How did you overcome them?
  • How did you hold yourself back?
  • What are you glad you spent money on?
  • Where was money wasted?
  • What are you glad you spent time doing?
  • Where was time wasted?
  • What energised you?
  • What drained your energy?
  • How can you better manage your energy?
  • What were the top 3 lessons you learnt?
  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • Who encouraged and supported you?
  • Looking back what were your top 3 values?
  • Are there things you should you let go of?
  • What word would describe your past year?

You’re welcome to share a little or much of your answers in the comments below. Some of my going deeper answers are …

What I’m glad we spent money on?
Our caravan. It’s become a symbol of rest, purpose + gratitude. Taking time out of our usual routine at home has kept us refreshed + energised as a family. It’s given us time to spend together, doing things we enjoy. Part of living a good life is having time for play. And our caravan has helped us learn to take time out of the doing + find rest.

My top 3 values were …
Creativity – I created a creative bible study for planner lovers that was also a cumulation of what I learnt about the value of gratitude + thankfulness.
Change – My one word for the past year took me on an incredible journey of change. You can read more about it here. Looking back I can see that it was also preparing me for what I want to achieve.
Learning – I spent time + money on learning about business + life. Learning from others is something I value greatly. I appreciate others sharing what they know + have experienced.

Tony Crabbe has a great section in his book “Busy – How to Thrive in a world of Too Much” about finding your values. Defining your values helps you make choices aligned to living your best life.

As you develop the habit of reflection you’ll easily see + be able to celebrate your progress.

So take your time as you answer the questions that relate to you. It’s about progress not perfection! As you answer these questions you’ll gain tremendous clarity about where you are + where you want to be.

The next steps will connect you with a plan to make your goals a reality, so that can live a life you love. See you soon for more planning goodness!

Ultimate Digital Goodies Giveaway

If I could pick a fourth value for every year it would be giving. So I’ve gathered up a selection of printable + digi craft supplies from in store to help you create an awesome year ahead.

End of Year Review : refresh your day + live your best life > Free Printables + Ultimate Digital Goodies Giveaway at byjacquiesmith.com

There are a bundle of prizes to win + fun ways to enter :

  • Colour Your 365 2017 Planner Kit
  • Colour your 365 Projects Kit
  • Colour your 365 Finances Kit
  • Colour your 365 Health Kit
  • Colour your 365 Daily Routine Kit
  • Colour your 365 Circle of Life Stickers
  • So Thankful Creative Bible Study
  • Faith Planner Kit
  • So Thankful Digi Craft Bundle
  • Super Grateful Planner Kit

BONUS: One person who comments on both their Check In + Going Deeper answers in the comments below will receive the complete bundle of digital goodies.

:: Giveaway closes 31 January 2017.

#plansmomentslife

Share: a little or much of your answers to both the Check In + Going Deeper questions in the comments below to win the complete bundle of digital goodies listed above!

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