How to Do a Past-Year Review (Even If January Already Slipped By)

habit creation lifestyle

We live in a culture where it can feel like you’re supposed to do all your reflection and intention setting before the ball drops on December 31st.

Like there’s an invisible deadline. And if you miss it, you’re already behind.

If you had a whirlwind of a December, which most people did, you might hit January and think, “Well… I guess I missed it.” The moment passed. Why even bother now?

Here’s the first thing I want you to know: You can reflect on your life any day you’re alive.

There is nothing more special about doing a past-year review on December 31st than there is on January 12th, or February 3rd, or a quiet Tuesday when you finally have the space.

Why a Past-Year Review Matters

There is a reason this time of year feels charged.

Psychologists call it the Fresh Start Effect, which basically means our brains are more open to change at natural transition points. Mondays. New months. Birthdays. New jobs. And yes, the New Year.

But a past-year review isn’t about changing your life overnight.

It’s about pausing long enough to see what actually happened.

Without that pause, it’s very easy to keep repeating the same habits and patterns. Not because you’re failing, but because you never really stop long enough to choose differently.

Reflection gives you that pause.

You Didn’t Miss Your Chance to Reflect

If you didn’t sit down with a journal before January 1st, nothing is wrong with you.

Most people don’t do a formal year-end reflection at all. There’s nothing morally superior about having a “word of the year” or a perfectly articulated plan.

What does matter is giving yourself moments to look at your life honestly. To notice what’s been working, what’s been hard, and what you’ve been carrying longer than you realized.

That kind of clarity doesn’t arrive on command. It usually shows up slowly, in pieces, once you give yourself a little quiet.

Why Looking Back Is Often Easier Than Looking Forward

For me, looking back on a year has always felt easier than looking ahead.

The past has already happened. The themes are there if I slow down enough to notice them. I can usually make sense of things in hindsight.

Looking forward is messier.

I know I want things. I know I get frustrated when life doesn’t give me what I’m hoping for. But sitting down and trying to put clear language around what I want next doesn’t come naturally to me.

That’s one reason I put so much care into the past-year review. It gives me solid ground before I try to imagine anything new.

What a Past-Year Review Is (and What It Isn’t)

A past-year review is not a performance, a highlight reel, or a productivity exercise. It’s not about judging yourself for what you did or didn’t do.

It is a way to notice patterns, to understand what shaped you, and to acknowledge what you carried.

Think of it as listening, not fixing.

A Simple Past-Year Review You Can Actually Finish

You don’t need a fancy setup for this.

What you need

A journal or notebook
A pen
About 45 minutes
Permission to be imperfect

That’s it.

Past-Year Review Prompts

Set a timer, make yourself a cup of tea, and work through whatever pulls at you from this list:

Finish this sentence: “2025 was a year of…”
Walk through the year month by month. What stands out?
What challenged you?
What surprised you?
What felt easier or more beautiful than you expected?
Finish this sentence: “Thank you, 2025, for…”
What do you want to leave behind and not carry into the next year?

You don’t need to answer all of these. Let the ones with energy lead.

And then, just write.

As much or as little as you want. Stare out the window if you need to. Go on tangents. Circle back.

You’re not trying to impress anyone.

Why the Insights Often Come Later

One of the most important things to know about reflection is this:

The wisdom usually doesn’t arrive while you’re writing.

It shows up later while you’re making coffee. Or when you're on a walk with your dog. Or a conversation with your loved one or a colleague, and all of a sudden, something just lands differently.

The journal isn’t the point. It’s the doorway.

Letting Your Body Be Part of the Reflection

If movement helps you think more clearly or feel more like yourself, let your body be part of this process.

A short, gentle yoga practice before you sit down to write can change the quality of the whole exercise. Nothing intense. Just enough movement to get out of your head and back into yourself. I actually created a 22-minute class for this exact situation that you can practice for free on YouTube.

A lot of people notice their reflection softens when their body has already had a say.

What Comes After a Past-Year Review

Once you’ve taken time to look back, looking ahead starts to feel different.

That’s where intention setting comes in, and it works best when it grows out of what you’ve already noticed, not what you think you’re supposed to want.

Want to Stay Connected?

If this past-year review process was helpful, here are a few gentle ways to keep going:

Join the email list (FREE)

Thoughtful emails about movement, reflection, and building habits that actually stick, without burnout or pressure.

Explore the Online Yoga Studio (2-week free trial)

If movement helps you process what comes up through reflection, the studio is a supportive place to do that.

Explore our programs

Re-Wire: for rebuilding trust with your body
Fix Your Posture: for translating awareness into everyday movement

You don’t have to choose everything. You can take what’s useful and leave the rest.

I’m glad you found your way here.