reflections > resolutions

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heyyy merry makers!

usually, i’m all about diving deep into the nitty-gritty of profit margins & store operations. but today, we're veering off the beaten path to explore something that's just as vital for your business & your personal growth: the transformative art of the annual review.

you guys were all about my year-end templates roundup last year, so i knew i had to whip it up again for you!

from my days of dissecting business performances (& possibly too much time with spreadsheets 😅), i picked up on the profound impact of consistent reviews early on. yet, it wasn't until recently that i tapped into the magic of applying this practice on a personal level.

taking time to look back is how you move forward with intention.

and unlike spotify wrapped, i'm all about waiting until the credits roll before penning my reviews. i typically pencil in this ritual for the first week of january, but hey, there's really no bad time to start reflecting.

so with let's dive into my top picks for year-end reflection, shall we?

starting with two i’ll be using 😄 

my pick #1: best for deep reflection & realignment

steven schlafman’s 8 step downshift annual review.

for the overachievers feeling the burn & burnout, steven schlafman’s downshift review is like a breath of fresh air. it’s designed to shift your focus from doing to being, with soothing practices like meditative reflections & future letters to yourself. it’s about slowing down, tuning in, & recharging for a new year.

he recommends taking 2-3 weeks for this ~10 hours in total.

i did this last year & am on step 2 of this years. can confirm it’s really powerful.

really helpful for building your integrity & authenticity.

my pick #2: best for light reflection, heavy planning

grace clarke’s personal annual plan google slide template

i know i know my subject line said reflections > resolutions.

this falls a tiny bit more on the resolutions side but the approach & suggest systems set you up much more for success than resolutions.

grace’s personal annual plan template is the total package for those who love a methodical deep dive into planning their life’s next chapter. think of it as your personal strategy session in google slides form—reviewing, visualizing, & goal-setting with some optional ai assists.

takes 1-2 hours per day for 3 days.

i printed day 1 out on saturday & filled it in with my boyfriend over pho.

twas delicious in all the ways!

runner up #3: best for simple q’s to ask yourself (or a friend!) on a walk

james clear’s 3 question review

channel your inner "atomic habits" enthusiast with james clear’s delightfully straightforward three-question review. it's snappy, insightful, & perfect for anyone looking to jazz up their habit game.

plus, you can peek into his past annual reviews before he became the habits guru.

runner up #4 : best for those that love an audit & optimizing their time

tim ferriss’ past year review

for the life-hackers & the tim ferriss devotees, his past year review is your new ritual. it's a half-hour to an hour of power-auditing your life’s ups & downs, followed by an action plan to pack your year with more of what makes you smile.

proactive, practical, & oh-so-ferriss.

runner up #5: best for weird q’s that force you to be honest with yourself

shane parrish’s annual reflections framework 

if mental models & mind-bending questions are your jam, shane parrish’s annual reflections will feel like a brainy feast. his thought exercise of firing yourself as ceo of your life to focus on what truly works is nothing short of revolutionary.

runner up #6: best for the content creators & ai optimizers

dickie bush & nicholas cole’s the yearly review

if you’re keen on blending technology with tradition, or if you’re looking to transform your reflections into engaging content, this ai-assisted yearly review is ideal. it helps streamline the reflection process & integrates smoothly into content creation.

runner up #7: part reflection, part planner, all pen & paper :)

intelligent change’s best year journal 

all the pen-and-paper people, rejoice! the best year journal from intelligent change is more than just reflection. it’s a beautifully crafted planner that intertwines gratitude with forward-thinking planning.

get ready to pen your way to a fantastic year.

i truly believe in the power of the annual review.

it’s such a powerful tool for not just surviving but thriving through life’s twists & turns. last year, taking the time to reflect, reassess, & realign helped me stay anchored as so much of my life was in flux.

i know see this time of year for rebooting.

for me that looks like reviewing & doing deep cleanings of my digital & physical lives.

& you can betcha this newsletter will be getting a thorough review!

so whether you’re reinventing routines or just keen on better end of year questions to ask people besides “how were your holidays…”, i hope these tools inspire you to carve out a path that’s authentically yours in the coming year.

here’s to closing out this chapter with gratitude
& stepping into the new year with gusto.

be merry,

MacK

p.s. if you want to return the cheers, give me a virtual clink by checking out our merry partner’s below 👇️ every click helps!