📈 Create your own personal-growth wrapped 2022!

Not only companies—you, too, need to assess your own personal annual reviews.

Recently, there has been a trend going on where people list down every single thing they’ve done in a month, to really lay out and see how much they’ve achieved. This was eye-opening as it’s easy for us to forget amongst hectic deadlines and schedules.

Taking it to the next level, start your 2023 right by creating an annual review of your year. From “What was the biggest thing that happened in January?”, to “Which month felt the slowest and why?”. This will help you project where to go next.

Source: Getty Images via Inc.com

On the right track, faster

Some people go fast with nowhere to go, others know their exact destination but take too long to get there. Find the balance by conducting your own personal annual review, where you reflect on the ups and downs of your year.

By zooming out and seeing the bigger picture, you will be able to:

• Uncover patterns and identify areas for improvements, hence accelerating your personal growth.

• Become aware of things you're grateful for, which, according to countless studies, can increase contentment and productivity.

• Boost your sense of self-agency, by seeing what you achieved and how your choices have influenced where you are now.

• Combat the end-of-history illusion, aka our assumption that who we are right now is who we will remain for the rest of our life.

• Gain the opportunity to look at your habits, including routines and systems. What works, what doesn't, and where do you need to adjust?

Learn more of personal annual review’s benefits in the full piece here.

Start tracking now, execute asap

As a self-reflection tool, personal annual reviews can definitely be customized to each individual’s preference. To maximize its use, you can follow the following timeline starts on the first week of December. But of course, you can tailor this method to fit anytime your life needs a reset.

Freelance writer, Erin of ZinzoeCreative, has shared her annual reflection and planning process:

1. Week 1: Reflection.

   While we should always strive to live in the present, taking a brief look at the last year from an objective standpoint is a valuable exercise.

2. Week 2: Release.

   This part of the process is to let go or release certain things that may be holding you back or generally frustrating you.

3. Week 3: Brainstorm.

   Figure out exactly what your priorities are. Then, no matter which approach you have decided to use, make a list of specific realistic and actionable goals.

4. Week 4: Relax.

   Balance out your goal planning and self-improvement by taking time out to enjoy your well-deserved break to avoid burnout and bailing on your Week 3 plan.

5. Week 5: Action Plan.

   You have a whole year to work on your goals. Don’t try to finish all of them in the first month. Rather, stay focused and work consistently throughout the year.

Find more detailed steps on what you can do each week for your personal annual review process in Erin’s full post here.

The reviews, in each life category

Not sure where to start? Yi Shun Lai, author and columnist at The Writer Mag, has published her template she’s used yearly to take stock and map her priorities.

Sourcre: Yi Shun Lai, Medium

The Technique

• Everything falls into one of three status markers.

• The three status markers:

  • A plus (what went well)

  • A minus (what didn’t go so well)

  • An arrow forward (what can you do better next time?) → isn’t about the things you want to stop doing, but also about the things you want to keep doing.

• Assess 9 life categories

  • Health and Fitness

  • Work and Business

  • Personal Life

  • Friends and Community

  • Learning and Knowledge

  • Travel and Culture

  • Hobbies and Creativity

  • Emotions and Spirituality

  • Money and Finances

• The next steps

  • Take notes of:

    • Your three biggest accomplishments

    • Your three biggest challenges

    • Your six main goals for the next year

  • Apply the following forward movements:

    • Expand on your pluses, minuses, and forward actions

    • Turn your chart and findings into a journal entry or blog post

Try out the full exercise and pull off a fuss-free, intuitive, annual personal review by checking out the full Medium post here.

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Have you tried a similar exercise before? Do you find it helpful, or have you found another method that was more effective?

Like most things, there is no one-size-fits-all for personal growth. Share with us what has worked for you in the past, in the comments below!

We’ll see you again next week for the our last edition…. of 2023 💔