40 year-end reflection questions
Updated October 30, 2026
Questions for looking back on your year, grouped by theme. Use them on your own, with a partner, or around the table with friends.
Every question has an example answer, so you’re never staring at a blank line.
Highlights
Open your camera roll at January and scroll as you go.
What did you take the most photos of this year?
e.g.My dog on the morning walk, almost every day
What did you do for the first time?
e.g.Ran a 10K. Hosted Thanksgiving.
Which day would you live again?
e.g.The first warm Saturday in April, at the lake
What was the best trip or day out?
e.g.A road trip up the coast with my sister
Where did you spend the most time, outside home and work?
e.g.The climbing gym on 5th Street
When did you laugh the hardest?
e.g.Game night, when the whole board flipped over
What was the hardest stretch, and what got you through it?
e.g.February at the new job — Sunday calls with Mom
If one photo had to stand for this year, which one?
e.g.Boxes stacked in the new apartment, pizza on the floor
Your year in favorites
The “best of” list most year-end posts are built on.
Song of the year
e.g.The one on repeat for every commute
Book, show or movie of the year
e.g.The series I finished in one weekend
Meal of the year
e.g.Tacos from the truck by the office
Best thing you spent money on
e.g.Good running shoes — they’re why I kept going
A purchase you’d take back
e.g.A gym membership I used twice
New hobby or habit
e.g.Sketching on the train
Word of the year: if one word sums it up, what is it?
e.g.“Steady”
People
Who did you talk to most?
e.g.My college group chat
Who new came into your life?
e.g.A neighbor who now feeds my cat when I travel
Who do you owe a thank-you you never said?
e.g.My manager, who covered for me in May
Who showed up for you when it mattered?
e.g.The friend who drove me to urgent care
What moment with family do you want to remember?
e.g.Teaching my dad to video call
Which relationship changed — and is that okay?
e.g.An old friend I see less now. It’s fine.
Work and growth
What are you proudest of at work or school?
e.g.Shipping the project I almost gave up on
What did you learn to do this year?
e.g.Drive stick. Basic Spanish.
What did you stop doing — and are you glad?
e.g.Checking email in bed. Very glad.
Which mistake taught you the most?
e.g.Saying yes to everything in the fall
What question did you keep coming back to?
e.g.Whether to move cities
What took more courage than people knew?
e.g.Asking for a raise
What would you tell yourself on January 1?
e.g.You’ll be fine. Book the trip.
Body and mind
Describe this year in three words.
e.g.Busy, brave, tired
What did you do for your body?
e.g.Walked 8,000 steps most days
What helped on the bad days?
e.g.A hot shower, one episode, then bed
When were you kindest to yourself?
e.g.A day off with nothing planned
How are you different from a year ago?
e.g.I say no faster
When did you feel most like yourself?
e.g.Saturday mornings at the farmers market
Into next year
Which habit do you want to keep?
e.g.Ten minutes of stretching after work
What do you want to leave behind?
e.g.Scrolling past midnight
Where do you want to go?
e.g.Japan in cherry blossom season
What’s one thing you want to learn?
e.g.Bake real bread
Write a one-line note to yourself a year from now.
e.g.Hope you called Grandma more.
Finish the sentence: “This was the year I…”
e.g.…finally moved out on my own
Copy or print the list
The whole list as plain text. Paste it into your notes, or print it on one sheet.
Questions
How many reflection questions should I answer?
Ten is plenty for a first pass. Start with the ten numbers above, then add any that pull at you.
What if I can’t remember much of my year?
Go month by month through your photos, calendar and messages, and jot one line per month first. The questions get much easier after that.
Can I use these for a work or team review?
Yes. Questions 22 to 28 under “Work and growth” work well for a team retro. Leave the personal ones for yourself.
