#8 How to evaluate your year
- Anisha Ghosh
- Mar 2
- 6 min read
9th Feb 2026 mood: How is 2026 moving so fast?
This Week’s Whisper from the Universe
"Okay, yes, it's a mistake. I know it's a mistake, but there are certain things in life where you know it's a mistake but you don't really know it's a mistake, because the only way to really know it's a mistake is to make the mistake and look back and say 'yep, that was a mistake.' So, really, the bigger mistake would be to not make the mistake, because then you'd go your whole life not really knowing if something is a mistake or not.'" - Lily (HIMYM)
I know the date is 9th Feb because I started writing this then but only got time to proofread and edit it today, so wanted to clarify in case anyone was wondering. Okay, now go ahead and read!
Let’s Overthink This
Probably a little late to be writing this post, but I recently finished evaluating my 2025 in the middle of January and I thought I should write about it. I was talking to a friend at work and he said how his 2025 just passed him by, and then we had a short conversation about the core memories and important moments of his life that I knew about, and maybe that helped him look at 2025 differently, maybe it didn't. But this is a feeling a lot of people share, where they feel that time just passes them by, and it's not because it's true, it's because they never took the time to reflect on any of it. Did time pass them by? Did they make any mistakes? What went right? What made them happy? Because "Life is lived in the present, but understood in the past."
So at the end of each year, or in my case the middle of January, these are the few questions I look to answer and I hope they help you too!
First of all, no new year new me. You cannot keep changing every year, it requires a lot of effort to fall in love with yourself. Imagine you love someone and they keep changing every single year because the new year signifies becoming a new person, sounds like it's going to be a task to fall in love with them again. So let's change that, new year, better me.
How would you describe your last year?
While answering these questions, I usually start with the dominant emotions. Being humans, sometimes we only remember the bad or sad parts, and the extremely hard parts, so jot down everything you felt and then start attaching your anecdotes or experiences alongside. They don't have to be full length journals, a short note to remind yourself will do. I usually also go through my gallery after the first runthrough in my head about last year, and that almost always brings in more anecdotes and experiences that change the way I feel about the year and makes it more positive. So if anything, take more pictures. Document the smaller, not so monumental parts of your life as well, not for the gram but for yourself, your own digital diary.
What were your proudest achievements?
This is quite easy and straightforward. Anything can be a proud achievement, it's very subjective. For example, one of my proudest achievements last year was being able to walk without a knee brace and working towards my recovery. Be kind to yourself here.
Good things that happened last year
Here you list down your experiences or any moment that stood out. For me, one of the good things was getting to experience a live concert, because my friends surrounded me and made sure I didn't get hurt in a crowded area since I was still recovering. So it can be something that most people don't notice as much, but it was important to me and affected me in a positive way.
Hardest part of last year
Usually this is a section where most of us shine, and as a pattern I've noticed in myself, it is very easy to remember the harder parts of life because when you're in the dumps, life really tests you. So just list them down, and give yourself a pat on the back for making it through!
Did you stick to your goals?
Be honest here because even if you didn't, it's okay. Jot down what blocked you, because we can't do everything at once. If the goal was important to you, continue working on it, don't give up just because the year changed.
Now coming to the part where you chart out a high level plan for the new year. Don't be afraid to be ambitious here, but always remember that not everything is in your control, so if everything isn't crossed off this list by the end of the year, just shift the goal according to where you are in your life.
List down your strengths
This is sounding like a self analysis during your yearly review at work, but trust me, don't look at it that way. Your strengths can and should include things outside of work. For example, I am a software engineer and one of my strengths is cooking and baking. So expand your world here!
Qualities you want to work on
Here you can include new traits or skills you want to acquire or learn. You can also add behavioural changes you want to bring about, for example, one of mine was needing to be better when anxious and starting to practice breathing techniques more seriously.
Habits you want to build
Pretty straightforward, no fluff, just write down the habits you want to build over the course of the next year.
Habits you need to quit
Again very straightforward. Just be honest with yourself and write down the habits you think are bad for you. For example, listening to something all the time was a bad habit for me because I was so overstimulated, but that same thing actually helps a lot of people. We are all different so think about yourself, not what the internet tells you.
And on that note, if you're stuck on the above two questions, I put together a YouTube video about 25 habits I built or am still working on to improve my quality of life. Check it out here.
Top goals this year
Keep this simple and quantitative where you can, or at least have checkpoints. You can divide your goals into three sections: Personal, Family/Friends and Work. This way you have a clear separation across the different parts of your life, because our days can all melt into each other and it's easier to keep track when things are compartmentalised.
How will you reward yourself if you achieve your goal?
This one is really important for keeping your spirits high. Gift yourself something when you hit major goals in each section, or decide how you want to structure this for yourself.
List down your biggest distractions
It can be something like doomscrolling or in a broader sense your screen time. List them all down because it gives you perspective on how to tackle them, which brings me to the next question.
3 strategies to overcome your distractions
Again very straightforward. You know the problem, find the solution that you know will work for you. Just be really honest with yourself here.
And finally, focus on your progress, not your failures. Just because you wasted a day or a week doesn't mean the whole year is a waste. Get up and get back to it. Read through your answers to the above questions every time you feel like you have failed, it will immediately jolt you back up and help bring in a more solution oriented mindset.
Here are some of my other blogs you can refer to while answering some of these questions:
This Week's Soundtrack
Checkout all the songs from the previous editions of the newsletter
Freeze Frame
Nom Nom Nom
Literary Main Character Moment
Finished reading Days at Torunka Cafe and Tuesdays with Morrie, both such heartwarming reads with beautiful lessons about life woven through them. Great short reads, and honestly I would read both again because I feel especially Tuesdays with Morrie is the kind of book that takes on a different meaning depending on where you are in your life.
Checkout my socials and keep me accountable
Posted a bunch over the past few weeks, check them out here:
What’s Cooking in Your World?
What are some habits you've built over the years that have impacted your life in a positive way?
Byeee, Don’t Forget to Hydrate <3
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