The annual self-check is a powerful practice of pausing once a year to take stock of where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go. It's a moment to be honest with yourself about your growth, your setbacks, and your dreams.
This template guides you through the key questions that make an annual reflection meaningful. You'll capture not just what happened, but how it shaped you and what you want to carry forward.
When you receive this letter in the future, you'll have a window into who you were at this moment - your hopes, fears, and the small details of daily life that memory tends to blur over time.
Guiding Questions
- 1.What were your biggest wins this year?
- 2.What challenges did you overcome, and what did they teach you?
- 3.What are you most grateful for right now?
- 4.What do you want to remember about this time in your life?
- 5.What are your hopes and dreams for the year ahead?
- 6.What advice would you give your future self?
Sample Opening
"Dear Future Me, as I sit down to write this on [date], I'm reflecting on a year that has been..."
How to Use This Template
Find a quiet moment
Set aside 30 minutes in a calm, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted.
Review your year
Look through photos, journals, or calendars to remember key moments and milestones.
Answer the guiding questions
Work through each question honestly, writing from your heart without self-censorship.
Add personal details
Include specifics about your current life that you might forget - where you live, who you spend time with, what brings you joy.
Schedule delivery
Choose a meaningful date one year from now, perhaps the same date next year.