The Honest Review: A 10-Step Guide to Look Back at 2025

Each year, I experiment with different ways of reflecting on the year that’s passed before turning my attention to what comes next. This is the framework I used to review 2025. I’m sharing it in case it helps you slow down, take stock, and make sense of the year you just lived. You are welcome to use it, adapt it, and ignore anything that doesn’t resonate.

This is a reflection only. No planning. No goal setting. No performance pressure.

This review is about honesty, not optimisation.

Happy reviewing,

Jono

1) Year in a sentence or theme

• What one phrase captures the truth of 2025?

• If someone asked “What kind of year was it?”, what’s the honest answer?

• What word or feeling shows up most when I think about this year?

2) Wins & achievements

• What objectively went well this year?

• What am I proud of, even if no one else noticed?

• What progress did I make personally and professionally?

• Where did I show consistency, courage, or discipline?

• Community moments that mattered

• Systems or processes that improved things

• Reputation or trust built

• What actually drove these results?

  • Skill?

  • System?

  • Environment?

  • Support from others?

  • Timing/luck?

3️) Challenges & misses

• What didn’t go as planned?

• What felt heavier or harder than expected?

• What drained time, energy, or attention without much return?

• What did I expect to complete but didn’t?

• For each challenge:

  • What assumption turned out to be wrong?

  • Was this a:

    • Planning issue?

    • Capacity issue?

    • Energy issue?

    • Priority conflict?

  • Did I abandon it because it no longer mattered, or because follow-through broke down?

4️) Lessons learned

• What did 2025 teach me the hard way?

• What lesson showed up more than once?

• What do I now know about myself that I didn’t before?

• What would I do differently if faced with the same situation again?

5) Habits, systems & patterns

• Helpful

  • What habits or systems accounted for most of my success?

  • What routines worked even during busy or stressful periods?

  • What consistently improved my days?

• Harmful

  • What habits quietly held me back?

  • What did I think was productive that actually wasn’t?

  • What patterns cost me time, energy, or presence?

6) Time & attention audit 

• What were the most valuable ways I spent my time this year?

• How often did those actually happen?

• What were the least valuable ways I spent my time?

• Where did time leak without intention?

7) People & relationships

• Who had the greatest positive impact on me this year?

• Who challenged me in ways that mattered?

• Where did collaboration feel energising?

• Which relationships quietly faded and why?

• Are there relationships or dynamics I’ve outgrown?

8) Energy & emotional truth

• What activities consistently drained me?

• What gave me energy, even when difficult?

• When during the year did I feel most alive?

• When did I feel flat, rushed, or resentful?

9) Gratitude & memory snapshots

• What am I deeply grateful for from this year?

• What moments would I want to remember in 10 years?

• Optional short list (pick a few, not all):

  • Best surprise

  • Favourite day

  • Favourite weekend

  • New experience that stuck with me

  • Moment of pride

  • Moment of connection

  • Moment of calm

10) Identity check

• How have my priorities shifted this year?

• Is there anything I’m still doing that no longer fits who I am?

• What version of myself showed up most often in 2025?

• What advice would I give myself 12 months ago, knowing I probably still need to hear it?