How to Remember 2015 and Plan for 2016

How to Plan for 2016

Each year between Christmas and New Years I walk through a simple exercise to help me think through the past year and plan for the coming year.  I originally learned this exercise from David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, and have customized it over the years. My wife and I both walk through it and my children are old enough to learn from several of these questions. I also use it with those that I coach as well. Allocating an hour or two over the next week to walk through this exercise will help you to start the new year well.

2015 Annual Review

Questions to guide you in your 2015 review and 2016 goal setting.

Consider the following areas as you answer the following questions for 2015 and 2016:

  • Physical

  • Emotional
  • 
Mental

  • Spiritual
  • 
Financial
  • 
Family
  • 
Community
  • Service

  • Fun
  • Creativity
  • Recreation

Completing and Remembering 2015

  1. Review your list of all completed projects
  2. What was your biggest triumph in 2015?
  3. What was the smartest decision you made in 2015?
  4. 
What one word best sums up and describes your 2015 experience?
  5. What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2015?
  6. What was the most loving service you performed in 2015?
  7. 
What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2015?
  8. What were you most happy about completing in 2015?
  9. Who were the three people who had the greatest impact on your life in 2015?
  10. What was the biggest risk you took in 2015?
  11. What was the biggest surprise in 2015?
  12. 
What important relationship improved the most in 2015?
  13. What compliment would you have liked to have received in 2015?
  14. 
What compliment would you have liked to have given in 2015?
  15. What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2015?

Planning for 2016


  1. What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2016?
  2. 
What advice would you like to give yourself for 2016?
  3. What major effort are you planning to improve your financial results in 2016?
  4. What would you be most happy about completing in 2016?
  5. What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2016?
  6. What would you most like to change about yourself in 2016?
  7. What are you looking forward to learning in 2016?
  8. What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2016?
  9. 
What are you most committed to changing and improving in your work during 2016?
  10. What, personally, are you committed to changing and improving in 2016?
  11. What are three goals you have for 2016?
  12. What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2016?
  13. 
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2016?
  14. 
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2016?
  15. What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2016?

What would you add to this? Please comment and add your insight!

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Posted by Brian Howard

My focus is to help YOU move forward one step at a time. I write about church excellence, personal productivity, and family leadership. I coach leaders, start churches, and help organizations break growth barriers. My goal is to draw on this experience to help YOU move forward in life, leadership, and productivity.