3 hours of free time. Make sure that nothing distracts you.
A large sheet of paper and stickers. It is better to write on paper, but a computer is also suitable.
Pen and colored markers.
A table or a board to spread out all the records.
Diary, calendar and other notes to remember what happened during the year.
Close people. You can do this exercise alone, but discussion with loved ones will give more benefit.

Step 1. Think about the past year

View your photos, diary entries, calendar, correspondence with loved ones. So you will remember what you have done and experienced over the past 12 months. Set the timer for one hour and get started.

After that, answer the following questions:

What were the main events of the year? What caused you to feel pride, joy, love?
What difficulties have you encountered ? What caused you pain, anger or sadness?

What have you learned in a year? What have you learned about yourself, other people, the world?

Set aside three minutes for each question. If you are doing an exercise with a loved one, discuss what surprised you, what you particularly remember, how these events affected you, what you will remember in five years.

Now transfer to a large piece of paper or to a document on your computer:

5 important events. Congratulate yourself and celebrate these victories.
5 difficulties . Be glad that they are behind you, that they have not broken you. And don't think about them anymore. Tear or burn the sticker on which you made the list.
5 lessons. Time does not turn into wisdom automatically. You need to squeeze it yourself.

Step 2. Evaluate your life at the moment

Think about which areas of life are doing well, and what needs additional attention. Rate each area from 1 to 5 in terms of how satisfied you feel in them: 1 — completely dissatisfied, 5 — completely satisfied.

For example, the spheres may be: health, communication, family, creativity, career, finances, emotional well-being.

Think about why you put this particular rating. What are you missing in this or that area? What needs to be changed? If the score is high, how to maintain it at the same level? Mark this on a large sheet under the lists of important events and lessons.

Step 3. Set goals for the next year

Answer the questions by allocating three minutes for each:

What do you want to achieve? What do you want to learn? Write down everything that comes to mind. This is your big list.
Which 3-5 items from the big list will make next year especially successful? Choose what is really important to you. This is your short list.

Go back to the goals from the short list and formulate them more clearly. Think about how to determine at the end of the year whether you have achieved success or not. Add a deadline, a specific action, or a number.

Determine your motivation. For each goal, name three needs or desires that encourage you to strive for it. If you want to start your own business, the motivation may be: a craving for risk, additional income, a desire to prove that you are capable of it. When you know the reason, it is easier for you to move towards the goal.

Step 4. Outline the direction

Make a realistic action plan. To do this, consider such items, again allocating three minutes for each:

Key points. Every three months you have to pass another point. So you will see that you are moving in the right direction.
New skills. What habits and attitudes will you need to achieve your goals?
Connections. With whom do you need to build or strengthen a relationship ? Who can inspire and support you on your way?
Bad habits. What will you need to give up?

Write down the goals and the main steps to achieve them on a large sheet. Put reminders on your calendar in three, six and nine months to track your progress.

Now you have a sheet with the achievements and lessons of the past year and clear goals for the new one. Keep it in plain sight so as not to forget what you have already achieved and what you are striving for.