Setting Your New Year's Intentions
A step by step process for reviewing 2025 and setting the course for 2026
Looking back to look forward
It’s tempting to start the new year with a laser focus on the year ahead— a fresh slate calling to us to embrace the infinite possibilities that exist in the unknown. But without taking the time to review what’s come before, we risk missing out on the lessons that the year just gone has gifted us. The beauty of looking back once the year is done is that we can review the past with a sense of accomplishment that we survived it, mining the experience for golden nuggets of advice we can take with us as we continue on our journey.
Recently my partner and I took ourselves on a bush walk to review the year that's been. We started the tradition this time last year when we made our five year plan, you can read about the process here.
This time around we called it our ‘year in review.’ We went through the categories of our lives both separately and together and took stock of what we thought worked well in 2025 and what we suspected needed improvement. We then discussed intentions that included clear actions we could take for how we’d like to improve each aspect of our lives in 2026.
Here’s how we did it —
Category is…
First choose the categories that you’d like to review in your life and that mean the most to you, our examples:
Family
Friends
Relationship
Money
Work
Wellbeing
Health
Other
Focus on the good
What were your highlights for each category and why? Reflect on the year that’s been and review real examples of people, places, experiences and achievements that you’re proud of and that added value to your life. Positive experiences too easily fade from our memories because the traumatic or difficult times can be more impactful and are stored more clearly (in an attempt to keep us safe). By taking time to actively remember the positive, we anchor them in our mind and are reminded that good things do happen and celebrate how far we’ve come.
Learn from the not so good
Rather than make a list of the things that didn’t work so well, instead focus on what needs improvement. Where could you have done better and what lessons can you learn from the mistakes, hardships or perceived failures? Reflect on what could have been done differently so as to learn from the experience and improve those parts of your life in the new year.
Looking forward
What you focus on expands— the clearer you are about the direction you want to go in and the more energy and attention you give it, the more likely you are to find opportunities, time, resources and the right people to help you get there.
When it comes to a new year, I much prefer setting an intention over a hard goal. A goal implies a strict structure, a clear and practical path to specific destination. What I’ve come to learn is that life is truly unpredictable and your dreams can and will unfold in the most unexpected and magical ways that you could never have predicted.
While goals and plans do serve a purpose for certain desired outcomes, when it comes to life I find it more beneficial and inspiring to hold the feeling and a clear focus on the direction I intend to go in while allowing it to unfold in a way that I may not be able to understand right now. I also found that looking back on what I achieved last year was a perfect reminder that some of the best experiences I had I couldn’t have possibly planned for.
Master your mindset
As we enter week two of the new year, the excitement of it all can already begin to wear off as reality sets in and life begins to get in the way. In order to stay the path, you’ll need to invest in ways that will help you to stay focused and keep moving forward in order to break old habits and stay inspired to bring your dreams to life.
A few tips for how I’ve been doing this—
Just start and start small — Remember the year is just beginning, you don’t have to achieve it all in the first few weeks. Take one step at a time and trust that those steps will compound over the year and get you to where you intend to go. Download our 5 Part ‘Just Start’ audio series for daily reminders to keep going.
Incorporate routines — While getting started with routines can be difficult, once they are in place and repeated enough they become automatic habits, like second nature — organise your morning, day, week in advance and carve out time for you & working towards your dreams. Podcast — Tips for Building a Creative Practice
Set up a system for accountability — It could be a coach, friend, colleague or post it notes around your house that remind you of your intentions and keep you on track and don’t forget to celebrate along the way.
Next Steps
For more business specific year in review questions, worksheets and video lessons download a copy of our First Aid Kit For Your Business
Get your copy of our Morning Routine Guided Meditation & Journal
Get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching —hello@startupcreative.com.au
Happy New Year
K