How to do an Annual Review and Set Goals for Next Year
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I do an annual review every December as a precursor to goal setting. In this article, I will explain the following:
- my exact review process
- how I set goals, and
- how I keep my goals visible.
Annual Review
Before setting goals, reflecting on how this year has gone is essential — this reflection should inform your goal setting. You can do this with pen and paper or in a blank document on your computer or mobile device.
First, I recommend dividing your annual review into life categories.
For me, these are:
- Health and fitness
- Work and business
- Friends and community
- Personal life and family
- Learning and knowledge
- Travel and culture
- Hobbies and creativity
- Emotions and spirituality
- Money and finance
You can choose the categories that work for you. I recommend you include a category for any goals you set for this year, too, so you can reflect on your progress with them.
I use the Ness Labs plus, minus, next journaling method (Cunff, 2019) to review each life category. I spend three minutes on each category — one minute identifying what went well (plus), one minute on what didn’t (minus) and one minute on what I probably want to do ‘next’.
After that, make a note of the following:
- your proudest accomplishments of the year, and
- your biggest challenges.
All of this information should inform your goal setting.
Goal Setting
Now, set your goals for the coming year.
I use a mix of goal-setting frameworks. I’m not a fan of SMART goals (making goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound). I usually have to Google the acronym to remember each letter's meaning! Instead, I focus on making my goals specific and realistic (but not easy — there should be some stretch).
