A year in review method⚡️
As the year winds down, I like to take a moment to reflect using a simplified version of the ‘History Mapping’ method.
This involves looking at specific aspects such as Places, Events, People, Defining Moments, and Challenges.
Tip: to do this — I sift through my calendar, phone photos, and phone notes, reliving each month.
Tip: the original method suggests adding your reflections visually on a timeline. To simplify the process, I jot down my thoughts in my Notes app.
A step by step process
- Reflect: for each month, what did I face in terms of Places, Events, People, Defining Moments, Successes, Challenges & Distractions?
- Define insights: what did I learn? What insights can I derive?
- Define principles: How can I apply my insights moving forward? e.g. given <insight>, next year’s focus will on <principle>?
Tip: while quite time-consuming, breaking it down into a few months at a time makes the process more manageable.
Tip: set a monthly reoccurring calendar invite for yourself to reflect on highs & lows after each month. This will make next years ‘Year in review’ a breeze.
Example (🖨️ to copy paste)
January 2023
Places: where did I spend my time?
Events: which big events took place?
People: who did I spend most of my time with?
Defining moments / successes: what happened that affected me most?
Challenges / distractions: what challenges did I face and what have I learnt about myself from these challenges?
The outcome of history mapping
If you’ve follow the three-step-process, you end up with a list of principles.
In Ray Dalio’s words,
“Principles are fundamental truths that serve as the foundations for behavior that gets you what you want out of life.”
In short,
‘Principles are rules to follow or avoid to get what you want’.
In a world where simplicity is key, this method is not only a retrospective exercise but a forward-looking guide.
You let the lessons of the past shape your principles for a more intentional future. ⚡️
