Best examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review

Let’s start where your brain actually wants to start: concrete examples. Below are several examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that you can copy word-for-word into your journal, Notion, Google Docs, or even a notes app.

Each template includes:

• A simple structure
• Specific prompts
• A short, realistic example of how someone might fill it out

You can mix and match pieces from different templates until you land on something that feels natural.

1. The “Year in Three Words” reflection template (with example)

This is one of the best examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review if you’re busy, overwhelmed, or new to reflection.

Template layout:

• Three words that describe this year
• Why each word fits
• One thing I want to keep, change, or let go of for each word

Blank template:

• Word 1:

  • Why this word?
  • What do I want to keep, change, or let go of related to this?

• Word 2:

  • Why this word?
  • What do I want to keep, change, or let go of related to this?

• Word 3:

  • Why this word?
  • What do I want to keep, change, or let go of related to this?

Real example of a filled-in version:

• Word 1: Overcommitted

  • Why this word? I said yes to every project at work and ended up working late three or more nights a week for most of the year.
  • What do I want to change? I’ll cap myself at two major work projects at a time and block one weeknight as a strict no-work evening.

• Word 2: Growth

  • Why this word? I completed an online certification and led my first big presentation.
  • What do I want to keep? Keep one learning goal per quarter and schedule time for it on my calendar.

• Word 3: Disconnected

  • Why this word? I barely saw close friends in person and defaulted to texting.
  • What do I want to let go of? Let go of the story that “I’m too busy” and schedule one in-person hangout every two weeks.

This is a gentle way to start if you’re looking for examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that don’t feel heavy or overly formal.

2. Data + feelings: a balanced year-end review template

Some people lean purely emotional with reflection; others want numbers. This template gives you both, which lines up nicely with research showing that tracking habits and goals can improve follow-through and self-awareness over time (American Psychological Association, NIH).

Sections in this template:

• Numbers snapshot
• Emotional snapshot
• What worked
• What didn’t
• Lessons and experiments

Blank template:

Numbers snapshot

• Work: income, promotions, major projects completed
• Health: average sleep, step count or movement per week, checkups done
• Relationships: number of in-person meetups, calls with family, trips
• Personal growth: books read, courses taken, hours spent learning

Emotional snapshot

• On a scale of 1–10, how satisfied do I feel with this year overall?
• Three emotions I felt most often:
• Three situations that brought me the most joy:
• Three situations that drained me the most:

What worked

• Habits, routines, or decisions that supported my goals:

What didn’t work

• Habits, routines, or decisions that held me back:

Lessons and experiments for next year

• One lesson for work:
• One lesson for health:
• One lesson for relationships:
• One small experiment I’ll try in January:

Real example of how this might look:

• Numbers snapshot – Health: Averaged around 6 hours of sleep instead of my target of 7–8. Worked out 2 times per week for most of the year, but walked a lot more—about 8,000 steps a day on average according to my phone.
• Emotional snapshot: Overall satisfaction: 6/10. Three emotions I felt most often: rushed, hopeful, tired. Most joy: weekend hikes, cooking with my partner, finishing a creative project. Most draining: late-night emails, scrolling social media in bed, saying yes to weekend work.
• What worked: Meal prepping on Sundays, setting my phone to Do Not Disturb after 9 p.m., and scheduling one “deep work” block on my calendar each morning.
• What didn’t: Keeping email open all day, sleeping with my phone next to my bed, and agreeing to meetings without checking my calendar.
• Experiment for January: Charge my phone outside the bedroom and block 8–10 a.m. as a no-meeting, deep-focus window.

If you’re hunting for examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that combine hard data and honest feelings, this one gives you both without getting overly complicated.

3. Work and career reflection: template for performance and burnout

Work is where a huge chunk of your time goes, so it deserves its own focused template. This is one of the best examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review if you want to prepare for performance reviews, negotiate a raise, or avoid another year of burnout.

Blank template:

1. Highlights and wins

• Three projects I’m proud of:
• Skills I used or developed:
• Positive feedback I received (from manager, peers, clients):

2. Challenges and stressors

• Moments I felt most overwhelmed or burned out:
• Patterns I notice (time of year, type of task, certain people):

3. Impact and value

• How did my work contribute to my team or company this year?
• Where did I create measurable results (revenue, cost savings, time saved, quality improved)?

4. Career direction

• Do I want more of this work, less of it, or something different?
• One realistic step to move my career in the direction I want:

Real example (shortened):

• Projects I’m proud of: Led the Q2 product launch, mentored a new hire, and redesigned our onboarding documents.
• Challenges: Felt most burned out in March and October when I was juggling launch deadlines and onboarding. I tend to over-function when others are behind.
• Impact: The Q2 launch increased sign-ups by 18%. The new onboarding docs cut training time by about 20% based on feedback from my manager.
• Career direction: I want more project leadership and less day-to-day admin. One step: ask my manager in January if I can formally own one cross-functional project and hand off some recurring admin tasks.

This template doubles as documentation for your next performance review, which your future self will thank you for.

4. Life domains wheel: holistic reflection template

If you like to see the big picture of your life, this is a classic structure used in coaching and personal development. Many coaches and counseling centers use a similar “life wheel” approach to help people reflect across multiple domains (University of California, Berkeley – Greater Good Science Center).

Domains you might include:

• Work / Career
• Finances
• Health & Energy
• Relationships & Community
• Personal Growth & Learning
• Fun & Creativity
• Home & Environment
• Mental Health & Inner Life

Blank template:

For each domain:

• On a scale of 1–10, how satisfied am I with this area this year?
• What went well?
• What felt off or neglected?
• One small shift I want to make next year:

Real example for one domain (Relationships):

• Satisfaction: 5/10
• What went well: I stayed close with two best friends through weekly voice notes and saw my family twice this year.
• What felt off: I didn’t build local friendships in my city and often felt lonely on weekends.
• Small shift for next year: Join one in-person group (book club, sports, volunteering) and attend at least three times before deciding if it’s a fit.

If you’re collecting examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that look at your whole life rather than just goals, this “life domains” structure is a flexible favorite.

5. Habit and time audit: a reflection template for time management

Because this sits inside Time Management Strategies, let’s talk about how you actually spent your time.

Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other time-use studies shows that people consistently misjudge where their time goes. A simple time audit as part of your end-of-year reflection can be eye-opening.

Blank template:

1. Where my time went (average week this year)

• Work hours (including commute):
• Sleep:
• Screen time (phone, TV, computer for non-work):
• Family / friends:
• Exercise / movement:
• Hobbies / creative time:
• Chores / errands:
• Other:

2. Top 5 recurring habits

• Morning:
• During the workday:
• Evening:
• Weekend:

3. Time alignment check

• Which activities gave me the highest return in energy, joy, or progress?
• Which activities ate time but gave very little back?

4. Time experiments for next year

• One thing I’ll do more of:
• One thing I’ll do less of:
• One thing I’ll stop doing:

Real example (short snapshot):

• Average week: About 45 hours of work including commute, 7 hours of sleep most nights, 14+ hours of phone and TV time combined, almost no blocked-out creative time.
• High-return activities: Coffee walks with a friend, Sunday meal prep, 30-minute strength workouts.
• Low-return activities: Late-night TikTok scrolling, checking email every 10 minutes, saying yes to every optional Zoom meeting.
• Time experiment: Turn off non-urgent notifications, schedule two 90-minute focus blocks on my calendar, and set a hard 11 p.m. screen curfew.

If you want examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that directly feed into better time management next year, this habit and time audit is a strong choice.

6. Emotional check-in and mental health reflection template

End-of-year reflection isn’t just about productivity. It’s also about your emotional and mental health. Organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health and Mayo Clinic encourage regular self-check-ins as part of stress management and well-being.

Blank template:

1. Emotional themes of the year

• Three emotions I felt most frequently:
• Three situations or patterns that triggered them:

2. Stress and coping

• Main sources of stress this year:
• Coping strategies I used (helpful and unhelpful):

3. Support system

• People or resources that supported me:
• Support I wish I had but didn’t:

4. Mental health next steps

• One thing I’ll continue because it helps:
• One thing I’ll try (therapy, support group, mindfulness practice, boundaries):

Real example (brief):

• Frequent emotions: Anxiety, hope, and gratitude. Anxiety around money and job security; hope when working on personal projects; gratitude during family dinners.
• Coping strategies: Helpful – walks without my phone, journaling, talking to a friend. Unhelpful – stress eating, late-night doomscrolling.
• Next step: Look up therapists covered by my insurance in January and schedule one consultation. Keep my 10-minute nightly journaling habit.

This template is one of the best examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review for people who want to prioritize mental health instead of only focusing on achievements.

7. Short, one-page reflection template for busy people

Maybe you’re exhausted and just want something you can finish in 20–30 minutes. Here’s a compact example of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that still gives you insight without becoming a project.

Blank one-page template:

• Three things I’m proud of this year:
• Three things I survived or got through:
• Three things I learned about myself:
• Three things I want more of next year:
• Three things I want less of next year:
• One word or phrase for the year ahead:

Real example (condensed):

• Proud of: Paying off a credit card, running a 5K, supporting a friend through a hard time.
• Survived: A layoff scare, a breakup, moving apartments.
• Learned: I need more sleep than I admit, I do better with structure, and I’m more resilient than I thought.
• More of: Mornings without my phone, time outdoors, in-person connection.
• Less of: Rushing, last-minute work requests, mindless scrolling.
• Word for next year: Steady.

This is the one I recommend when someone says, “Give me the simplest possible example of end-of-year reflection I can actually complete.”

How to choose the best examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review for you

You don’t need to use every template above. In fact, please don’t. Pick one or two examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review that match your energy level and goals this year.

A quick way to decide:

• If you’re burned out → use the one-page template and the Year in Three Words. Keep it light.
• If you want career progress → use the work and career template plus the data + feelings template.
• If you want better time management → use the habit and time audit and maybe the life domains template.
• If you’re focused on mental health → use the emotional check-in template and add a few prompts from the one-page version.

You can always come back and add more later. Reflection is a practice, not a test.

FAQ: examples of end-of-year reflection and how to use them

Q: Can you give a quick example of end-of-year reflection I can do in 10 minutes?
Yes. Set a timer for 10 minutes and answer only these three questions:

• What am I proud of from this year?
• What exhausted me this year?
• What is one small change I want to make in January?

That’s a simple, fast example of end-of-year reflection that still gives you insight without pressure.

Q: How often should I use these templates for review? Just once a year?
You can absolutely use these once a year, but many people find value in doing a lighter version each quarter. Think of the yearly review as the long, honest conversation and the quarterly reviews as quick check-ins.

Q: Do I have to write everything down, or can I just think about it?
Writing it down usually helps you think more clearly and remember your insights. There’s evidence that expressive writing can support emotional processing and well-being (University of Texas at Austin – James Pennebaker’s work, summarized via NIH). But if writing feels overwhelming, even talking it out with a friend or recording a voice note is better than skipping reflection entirely.

Q: What if my year feels like a failure and I don’t want to look at it?
That’s more common than you think. In that case, pick the gentlest template: the one-page reflection focusing on what you survived, not just what you achieved. You can also add one compassionate question: “Given everything I was carrying this year, what would I say to a friend in my situation?”

Q: Are digital or paper templates better for end-of-year reflection?
Use whatever you’ll actually stick with. Some people think better on paper; others like the flexibility of digital notes they can search and update. These examples of end-of-year reflection: templates for review work in either format—copy them into a doc, a notes app, or a notebook and adjust as needed.

End-of-year reflection doesn’t have to be dramatic or perfect. It’s simply a pause: a moment to say, “Here’s what happened. Here’s what I learned. Here’s how I want to show up next.”

Pick one template. Fill it out honestly. Let that be enough.