The 10 question annual reflection is a longstanding ALearningaDay tradition. I recommend doing it in 3 steps:
i) Carve out an hour in the next week to “look back and look forward.” It helps to do this in a quiet place with no distractions or interruptions.
ii) Work with a list of 10 questions that make you think. For a starter list, I’ve shared the 10 questions I ask myself below (here’s the Google doc – you can just make a copy onto your Google Drive. Here’s a PDF if you prefer to print). I prioritize keeping my list simple – some years, I get done in an hour and in other years, I spend a few hours diving deep into a question or two. The important thing is not the length/depth, it is simply carving out the time to zoom out.
iii) Archive your questions and notes for next year. Check in with them over the course of the year and read them before you start next year’s reflection. Looking at what was top-of-mind a few years later is also guaranteed to make you smile. :-)
10 Questions – Annual Reflection 2025
“Sometimes, we need to just take a step back and look back at how the pieces fell. When we do that, we see what was important and what never was.”
- What are the top 2 themes/memories/moments I will remember 2025 for?
- What were the 2 biggest lessons I learnt in 2025?
- We learn from a mix of 3 sources – i) taking action and reflecting on our experiences, ii) people, and iii) books/courses or synthesized information. What did my mix look like in 2025?
i) Action + reflection:
ii) People:
iii) Books/synthesized info:
“Show me your schedule and I’ll show you your priorities.”
- Looking back at how I spent my time in 2025, what were the top 2 themes/buckets x processes/outcomes I prioritized (Examples: Career – prioritized ABC project or getting a raise, Health – prioritized more outdoor exercise or losing 10 pounds)? Did what I prioritize align with what I intended to prioritize/were there any surprises?
- What are the top 2 themes/buckets x processes/outcomes I intend to prioritize in 2026?
- What are 1-2 things I’m going to take with me from 2025 and what are 1-2 things I’m going to leave behind?
“How we hope it works: Commit → Take action
How it actually works: Commit → Fail → Recommit x 20 → Fail x 20 → Recommit → Take action”
- What do I most need to learn in 2026 and how do I plan to do this (habits/checkpoints, etc.)?
- What have I got planned in 2026 to prioritize renewal and memorable experiences (e.g. holiday plans, weekend activities, hobbies)?
- Health, close relationships, and money are foundational to the quality of our lives. What are my guiding principles or habits as I think of these dimensions going into 2026?
Health:
Close relationships:
Money:
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
- What is a set of 2-5 principles and/or values/virtues that I want to live my life by?
[Note: These could include your notes from the previous question. Consider saving these on your phone so you can read them first thing in the morning. ]
I look forward to doing mine in the next days. I hope you find this useful as well.
A Learning a Day 