40 Year-End Reflection Questions to Ask Yourself

By Cedar & Ledger

A year-end review takes about an hour and makes next year's goals much easier to set. Below are 40 reflection questions in five groups, plus a simple way to turn your answers into three goals. Pick the questions that fit you; you do not need to answer all 40.

Looking back

1. What were the three best moments of my year?
2. What am I most proud of?
3. What was harder than I expected?
4. What did I learn about myself?
5. Which habit helped me most?
6. Which habit held me back?
7. What did I start that I want to finish?
8. What surprised me this year?

People and relationships

1. Who made my year better?
2. Who do I want to thank, and how?
3. Which relationship do I want to invest more in?
4. Where did I say yes when I meant no?
5. Who did I help this year?
6. What conversation am I glad I had?
7. Who do I want to see more of next year?
8. What kind of friend was I?

Money and work

1. Did my spending match what I care about?
2. What purchase was worth every dollar?
3. What purchase do I regret?
4. Did I save as much as I planned? Why or why not?
5. What skill made me more valuable at work?
6. What would I change about how I spend my workday?
7. What is one bill or subscription I could cut?
8. What money goal do I want to hit next year?

Health and energy

1. When did I feel most energized?
2. What drained my energy most?
3. How did I sleep, honestly?
4. What did I do for fun?
5. What helped when I felt stressed?
6. What is one small health habit to keep?
7. How often did I get outside?
8. What do I want to stop doing next year?

Looking ahead

1. What word do I want to describe next year?
2. What would make next year a great year?
3. What is one thing I want to learn?
4. What place do I want to visit?
5. What do I want more of? Less of?
6. What is the first small step for my top goal?
7. What could get in my way, and what is my plan for it?
8. What will I tell myself on December 31 next year?

Turn your answers into 3 goals

1. Circle any answer that came up more than once.
2. Pick one goal each for people, money and health.
3. Write each as a specific action with a date, for example "save $50 from each paycheck starting January 15" instead of "save more."
4. Put a 15-minute check-in on your calendar once a month.

This is a self-reflection exercise, not professional, medical or financial advice.

Keep it on paper

Our 2027 Goal Planner has pages for yearly goals, monthly check-ins and habit tracking, and the Year-End Review & New Year Budget Planner walks through a money review of the year. For kids, try the Kids 2026 Year in Review. Related free guides: New Year goals you keep and Word of the year ideas.

Related template: the goal planner 2027 template. Also see: the year end planner template · the kids year in review 2026 template

See all Cedar & Ledger templates