Hey Time Dorks!
Connor here with a reflection on…reflection, and a special invite to a free workshop that I think you’ll love.
December is one of my favorite months of the year, not just because it’s my birthday, but because it’s when I start making time for one of my favorite rituals: the Annual Review.
I first picked up this ritual from my friend Tyler, who would email his friends and family a simple Google Doc capturing the highlights of his year, lessons learned, and his goals for the next one. I loved how he turned his year into a little artifact, and it inspired me to do the same.
I did my first Annual Review in 2019, and it has become a yearly pause that helps me take stock, learn from what actually happened, and step into the next year a little more intentionally.
For me, this has been far more meaningful than the many years I set ambitious resolutions that didn’t survive till February. I’m not opposed to the energy behind the “New Year, New You” hype, but I’ve made far more resolutions than I’ve ever kept.
Over time, I’ve learned sustainable change comes from understanding your real life, and making tiny improvements along the way. Those small shifts stack up and create a huge difference over time.
That’s why the Annual Review feels different. Instead of forcing goals from thin air, or committing to changing your life overnight, it starts by looking at your lived experience. You notice what’s working (let’s do more of that!), what’s not (what could I change?), and clarity naturally follows.
And this year, I want to share this ritual with you!
Annual Review Kickstart Workshop
I’d love to invite you to join me for a free 60-minute Annual Review Kickstart Workshop.
Together, we’ll look back on the past 12 months, celebrate the progress you made, uncover lessons from the challenges you faced, and set gentle intentions to guide you into 2026.
Date: Thursday December 11th at 4:00pm GMT
Cost: Free
Where: Live on Zoom
What we’ll do:
- Reflect on the past 12 months through simple guided journaling
- Use a handful of prompts to uncover lessons, patterns, and moments that mattered
- Acknowledge and appreciate what you accomplished this year
- Set one or two intentions for 2026
- Kick off your Annual Review with good vibes and zero overwhelm
👉 RSVP HERE
Why this matters
Reflection is Step 4 of the Make Time framework for a reason. It helps you turn your everyday experience into insight. When you pause and look back on your own life, you get to keep what works, drop what doesn’t, and get better at making time for what matters.
The Annual Review is like a bigger, more spacious version of the daily reflection we recommend in the Make Time system. Instead of tweaking tactics or adjusting your calendar, we zoom out and look at the big picture of your year so we can tease out the moments that mattered and the lessons you learned.
Here’s what I’ve learned after six years of experimenting with this ritual:
- Simple beats complex. A few questions can go a long way. I’ve gone overboard a few times with overly complex templates that made the whole process heavier than it needs to be. Remember, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” (good ol’ Leo Da Vinci)
- Doing it with someone else helps. I’ve come to appreciate the power of accountability since I started doing my review with my wife. By having some support, it’s easier to stay focused even when the end-of-year rush tries to pull me away.
- Make it yours. Experimenting with different prompts and formats is fun, but feel free to drop anything that doesn’t resonate. I’ll share some of my favorite prompts in the workshop, and you can make them your own.
Hope to see you there,
Connor
P.S. If you want a peek at what an Annual Review can look like, here’s my own from last year: 2024 Annual Review.
