How to Reflect, Reset, and Plan for a More Organized Year
Most people skip this step.
They jump straight into setting goals for the new year without ever looking at what actually happened in the last one. And then they wonder why nothing really changes.
A year-end review is what closes that gap.
In this conversation, Miriam Ortiz y Pino from More Than Organized shares how she approaches reviewing her year and planning ahead in a way that’s realistic, flexible, and actually useful in everyday life.
Not complicated. Not overdone. Just intentional.
Start with what worked (and what you actually enjoyed)
The first question Miriam asks is simple:
What did I love about this year?
This isn’t just about productivity or business wins. It can be anything that stood out in a positive way.
Projects, clients, routines, events, even books or shows. If it mattered to you, it counts.
This part matters because it gives you direction.
Instead of guessing what to focus on next year, you’re building from real experience. You already know what felt good and what worked.
That’s what you want more of.
Then get honest about what didn’t work
The second question:
What do I never want to do again?
This is where most people either rush through or avoid completely.
Sometimes it’s obvious. Something didn’t go well.
Other times, it’s more subtle. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t worth the effort. Or it didn’t move things forward the way you expected.
This is where refinement happens.
You don’t have to throw everything out. You can pull pieces from what worked and leave the rest behind.
This is especially true with things like launches, workflows, or recurring commitments.
Not everything needs to come with you into the next year.
Look at what you learned (this is where it clicks)
The third question:
What did I learn about myself?
This is usually where the most useful insights come from.
Over the course of a year, you get real data about how you work.
What you can handle. What drains you. What actually fits your life.
Maybe you realized you need more structure.
Maybe you learned you’re capable of more than you thought.
Maybe you figured out where things consistently fall apart.
That kind of awareness makes future decisions easier.
Use that information to plan ahead (without overcomplicating it)
Once you’ve looked back, planning the next year becomes a lot more grounded.
You’re not starting from scratch. You already know:
-
What you want to keep
-
What needs to go
-
What needs to change
Miriam talks about planning ahead not as a control tactic, but as a way to reduce decision fatigue.
If you already know what you’re focusing on, you don’t have to reinvent the plan every week.
You’re not wasting energy trying to figure out what to do next.
You just show up and execute.
That’s especially important on the days when your energy is low or things feel off. The plan is already there.
What this actually does for your year
A year-end review isn’t about looking back for the sake of it.
It’s about creating a clearer starting point.
When you take the time to review your year honestly, you stop carrying forward things that don’t belong.
You stop repeating the same patterns without realizing it.
And your plan for the next year actually reflects how you live and work, not how you think you should.
A simple way to start
If you haven’t done a year-end review before, start simple.
Look at your calendar.
Think through what stood out.
Write down what you’d repeat and what you wouldn’t.
That alone will give you more clarity than most goal-setting exercises people do in January.
