Before You Plan 2027, Take a Look Back at 2026

 

It's hard to believe we're already approaching the end of 2026. It feels like just yesterday we were setting our goals, choosing our words for the year, creating vision boards, and thinking about all the things we wanted to accomplish. And now, here we are, with less than two months left in the year.

If you're anything like me, you're probably already starting to think about 2027. What do you want to accomplish? What changes do you want to make? What experiences do you want to have? What will your word of the year be?

I love this time of year because there's something exciting about the possibility of a fresh start. I've been creating vision boards and setting intentional goals for more than 15 years, and it's a tradition I genuinely look forward to every December.

But before we get caught up in planning everything we want for next year, I think there's something really important we should do first.

We need to take a look back at the year we're still living.

So often, we rush from one year into the next without taking the time to really reflect on what we've experienced. We focus on the goals we haven't accomplished, the things we still want, and everything we plan to do differently. But what about everything that happened along the way?

What about the goals we did achieve? The unexpected opportunities? The moments that brought us joy? The challenges we never saw coming? The lessons we learned about ourselves?

Every year is filled with so much more than the goals we write down in January, and I think we owe it to ourselves to recognize that.

Give Yourself an End-of-Year Audit

Over the next month or so, I want to encourage you to do something I like to call an end-of-year audit. Not the kind of audit that involves spreadsheets, receipts, or anything that makes you want to run in the opposite direction. This is simply an opportunity to look back at your life over the past year and really think about what it held.

Start by thinking about the person you were on January 1, 2026. What did you want this year to look like? What goals did you set? What were you excited about? What were you worried about? Did you have a word of the year or a vision board? If so, pull them out and take another look.

Then think about where you are today. What did you accomplish that you're proud of? What goals did you stick with, even when they were difficult? What did you start that you never thought you'd have the courage to do?

And just as importantly, what didn't go as planned?

Maybe you had a goal you never even started. Maybe something you worked really hard for didn't happen. Maybe life threw something at you that completely changed your plans. Some of those unexpected changes may have turned out to be amazing, while others may have been incredibly difficult.

That's life. Very rarely does a year unfold exactly the way we imagined it would.

The purpose of this exercise isn't to judge yourself or create a list of everything you should have done differently. It's to understand what this year taught you, what mattered most, and how you've grown along the way.

Take It One Month at a Time

One of my favorite ways to reflect on the year is to go back through it month by month.

And if you're anything like me and can barely remember what you did last week, let alone what happened in February, I have a little trick that makes this much easier.

Open the photos on your phone and scroll through them one month at a time.

It's amazing how many memories come flooding back when you start looking through your pictures. A dinner with friends you forgot about, a weekend trip, a family celebration, a beautiful sunset, or even something as simple as a random Tuesday that turned out to be a really good day.

I also like to look back through my calendar. It's another great way to remember what was happening in your life throughout the year. Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget just how much we've actually done and experienced.

As you go through each month, ask yourself a few questions:

• What brought me joy this month?
• What did I accomplish that I'm proud of?
• What goals or habits did I stay committed to?
• What didn't go the way I hoped?
• What unexpected things happened, both good and bad?
• What did I learn about myself?

You might be surprised by what you discover.

Sometimes the moments that meant the most weren't the big accomplishments or milestones. They were the ordinary experiences that made life special. And sometimes the months that felt the hardest were the ones that taught us the most.

Don't Just Focus on What You Didn't Accomplish

I think one of the biggest mistakes we make when reflecting on our lives is focusing too much on what we didn't do.

We look at our goals from January and immediately notice the boxes we didn't check. The weight we didn't lose, the money we didn't save, the project we didn't finish, or the habit we never quite established.

But what about everything you did do?

Maybe you became more consistent with your workouts. Maybe you improved a relationship, learned a new skill, stepped outside your comfort zone, or simply made it through a really challenging season of life.

Maybe you accomplished something that wasn't even on your original list of goals.

Not every accomplishment can be measured, and not every meaningful moment was part of the plan.

I also think it's important to recognize that our priorities can change throughout the year. Something that felt incredibly important in January might not matter nearly as much by November. That doesn't necessarily mean you failed. Sometimes it means you've grown, your circumstances have changed, or you've realized you want something different.

And that's worth paying attention to.

What Would Make 2027 Your Best Year Yet?

Once you've spent some time reflecting on 2026, I want you to start thinking about one question.

What would make 2027 your best year yet?

Not what everyone else thinks you should accomplish. Not what looks impressive on social media. Not what you feel obligated to do.

What would genuinely make you happy?

Maybe it's traveling somewhere you've always wanted to go. Maybe it's improving your health, spending more time with people you love, getting your finances in order, starting something new, or finally doing something you've been putting off for years.

Maybe it's not about accomplishing more at all. Maybe it's about changing how you spend your time, what you prioritize, or how you want your everyday life to feel.

You don't have to figure all of that out right now. In fact, I don't want you to.

For now, I simply want you to give yourself the time and space to reflect.

Next month, I'll be sharing a Vision Board Workbook and a Word of the Year Workbook to help you turn those reflections into intentions for 2027. We'll spend time thinking about what we want to create, what goals matter most, and how we can be more intentional about the year ahead.

But before we start looking forward, let's appreciate where we've been.

There's Still Time Left in 2026

One last thing I want to remind you of is that 2026 isn't over yet.

We still have nearly two months left to make memories, experience new things, work toward our goals, and find joy in the everyday moments.

So don't mentally close the book on this year just because you're excited about the next chapter.

Take your time. Look through your pictures. Revisit your goals. Celebrate your accomplishments. Acknowledge the disappointments. Think about what you've learned and how you've changed.

And most importantly, give yourself credit for everything this year has held, including the things nobody else may ever know about.

Before you decide where you want to go next, take a moment to appreciate how far you've already come.

A Little Reflection for This Week

 

Set aside 20–30 minutes, grab a notebook, and look back at January, February, and March of 2026. What stands out? What made you happy? What surprised you? What did you learn?

 

You don't have to reflect on the entire year in one sitting. Give yourself the next several weeks to work through it. By the time December arrives, you'll have a much clearer picture of what you want to carry into 2027 and what you're ready to leave behind. In December I will send out a vision board and word of the year workbook. Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter list to get these workbooks! Click here