🧭 The Annual Recalibration
🧭 The Annual Recalibration
the 5-step process to closing out 2022
One of my favorite things about the dawn of the year is taking time to slow down and reflect on how life has played out over the last 365 days. In 2020, I kindled a daily journaling practice and spent December reading through all my entries, revisiting moments that had since escaped me.
As I read the entries consecutively, recurring themes emerged and I began connecting strands of ideas and feelings in ways I couldn’t have connected day to day. I took notes as I went and ended with 5 pages of messy notes that set the foundation for what’s become my annual recalibration ritual.
Every December, I carve out ~1 week to relive the year, looking back to prep forward. Completing an annual review has given me the space to zoom out and take a bird’s eye view of the full year rather than defaulting to recency bias as I set intentions for the new year. It’s my way of finding my way back to myself and taking a moment to tune into the person I want to become, not what society expects me to become.
In this piece, I’ll share how I run my process. Hope it’s helpful as you design a reflection process that brings you joy. If you have questions along the way, feel free to DM me at @cissyrxhu. Click below to access the full template.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, I’ve linked a collection of my favorite annual review templates below.
💬 Words of Wisdom
😌 Adopt a process & set of questions that bring you joy
This process gives you a portal to step back to moments that made up your year and who you’ve become —> Refine this process in a way that serves you
⏳ Make time to reflect and create space for it to marinate
Block chunks of deep work time to complete the review —> Allocate 1-2 weeks
🍵 Create an environment where you can free yourself from the day to day
Change up your surroundings to give your mind the space to flow freely —> Visit your favorite coffeeshop or travel to a new location
👯♀️ Find a partner to reflect with
Build in accountability with a trusted other to introspect together —> Carve out time to share your reflections with one another
🧭 A Guide to the Annual Recalibration
Step 1 — Excavation ⛏️
Step 2 — Reflection 🪞
Step 3 — Identity Alignment 🎭
Step 4 — Goal Mapping 📍
Step 5 — Dear 2023 Me 📨
STEP 1 — EXCAVATION ⛏️
Excavating is all about collecting your memories, experiences, ideas, and feelings throughout 2022 and putting the puzzle pieces together to build a complete view of the year.
🗓️ Review artifacts from the past year
✍🏻 Take notes on notable moments, experiences, and milestone
📝 Take freeform notes on recurring themes, ideas, and feelings
💬 Consolidate and bucket notes into categories
STEP 2 — REFLECTION 🪞
Reflecting is the heart of the annual review, taking the time to retrace your steps and extract insights on the person you’ve become over the last 365 days. Not all of the questions may be relevant to your process - find the questions that resonate most with you.
🔭 A Bird’s Eye View
Use your lists of moments and recurring themes to zoom out and reflect on the year holistically:
What 3-5 words defined 2022?
What key moments defined 2022?
What moments brought me the most joy?
What am I most grateful for?
⭐ Best of 2022
What were your favorites of the year?
Memory
Trip
Book
Song
Podcast
Food
🔋 Energy
What moments lit me up and energized me?
What moments did I find flow in?
What moments did I feel most aligned?
What moments drained me?
🌱 Growth
What did I do for the first time?
What moments expanded me the most?
What am I most proud of achieving personally?
What am I most proud of achieving professionally?
What new skills did I build?
How am I different?
What did I learn about myself this year?
🥊 Challenges
What was my biggest challenge this year?
What goals didn’t I accomplish? What got in the way?
What do I wish I did differently this year?
What habits or beliefs held me back?
🫂 Community
Who had the greatest impact on my life?
Which relationships have been most fulfilling?
Which relationships have been most draining?
Who walked into my life this year? What was their impact on me?
When did I feel most connected?
Who do I admire and want to spend more time with?
What communities do I belong to?
🫀 Health & Wellness
How did I challenge myself physically?
How did I challenge myself mentally?
What new habits did I build?
🎯 Lessons & Themes
What were my top lessons learned?
What 20% of actions resulted in 80% of results?
What advice do I have for me in the new year?
STEP 3 — IDENTITY ALIGNMENT 🎭
In the past, this was the point in the process where I’d start setting goals for the new year. This year, we’re trading goal setting for identity aligning.
Rather than focusing on what we want to achieve in 2023, we’ll define who we aspire to become. This is where you explore the big questions that are alive within you and get to the core of your why.
🪖 The Hard Questions
What am I scared to do? What have I postponed doing?
Where do I feel out of alignment in life?
What judgments and beliefs do I hold about what I want that no longer serve me?
What permission do I need to get started?
👋🏻 Farewell
During this section, take a few moments to thank the old you for doing its best to protect the younger version of you. There’s a reason why we once gravitated to these identities, beliefs, and habits. Express gratitude for all their service and bid them farewell
What existing identities am I shedding?
What beliefs no longer serve me?
What habits no longer serve me?
🧑🏻🎤 Identity Defining
What identities am I calling in for 2023?
Why do I want to embody these identities?
What aligned actions do I need to take?
What’s this identity’s day to day routine look like?
What habits do this identity practice?
STEP 4 — GOAL MAPPING 📍
Now that we’ve defined who we want to become in the new year, it’s time to get tactical and map out the actions that ultimately align us to these identities we’re feeling called to embody. Rather than set goals for your full year, focus on Q1. Our interests tend to evolve and short-term goal mapping gives us the space to reevaluate and upgrade our goals in 3 months.
Ask yourself: What are the biggest actions I can take in the next 3 months to become the person I aspire to be?
🫀 Body & Mind
Identity: I’m someone who is grounded in making the most out of every moment, present and at peace knowing I am exactly where I need to be
Follow the same process for the other areas of your life:
🌱 Personal Growth
💞 Partnership
🫂 Community
💻 Career
🤓 Side Projects
💰 Finances
🌎 Fun & Exploration
STEP 5 — DEAR 2023 ME 📨
Now that you have clarity around the type of person you aspire to become and your accompanying goals, it’s time to set your intentions and imagine a world where your intentions have actualized. My annual recalibration concludes when I hand write this letter and seal the envelope to be read in 365 days.
💌 Write yourself a letter as if it’s all come true
Here are a few questions to help you craft your letter:
What’s the world where this has all come true feel and look like?
How do I want to feel in the new year?
What words describe my intention for 2023?
What are my top 3 personal intentions?
What are my top 3 professional intentions?
What are the top 3 experiences I intend to have?
What am I letting go of?
✨ A Final Word
Congratulations on completing your annual recalibration! I hope it was a meaningfully rewarding experience that helped you get into a reflective headspace. Cheers to your most expansive year yet ⚡️
🔖 Collection of Annual Reviews
If you’re interested in exploring other Annual Review templates, here are a list of my favorites:
Annual Review Template (Public) — Kevin Lee (Notion)
✨ 2023 Annual Review Template — Patricia Mou (Sheets)
The Ultimate Annual Review — Steve Schlafman (Notion)