The Art of Monthly Reviews: Reflecting on Your Progress to Propel Forward

Introduction: Why Monthly Reviews Matter

As someone committed to the iterative life, I’ve learned that regular reflection is essential to ensure that the experiments and projects I’m pursuing are:

1. Contributing positively toward the person I aspire to be.
2. Not stalling or drifting off course.

The process I’m talking about is the review. While I maintain a weekly review habit, my monthly reviews serve as critical checkpoints for evaluating whether a project or experiment is worth continuing.

Why conduct a review at all? For me, it’s a chance to pause and reflect—a break from the mindless act of “doing.” While doing focuses on action, reviewing focuses on purpose: Why are we doing?

Before adopting monthly reviews, I found myself endlessly working on projects I believed aligned with my core values. Yet, over time, I noticed a dip in motivation and productivity. It wasn’t until I began completing monthly reviews that I realized some projects had fulfilled their original purpose or no longer served to move me forward.

Think of monthly reviews as a momentary map check—like navigating without GPS. Without periodic checks, we risk getting lost, wandering aimlessly, and missing key turns toward our goals. Reviews are essential for maintaining direction, achieving long-term growth, and celebrating the progress we’ve made.

Setting Up Your Monthly Review System

Before diving into a review process, you’ll need to establish a solid foundation by clarifying a few key elements:

Define Your Core Values

Core values are your compass. What drives you? What makes you you? How can you tell if you’re living in alignment with those values? By keeping these values top of mind, your reviews will become actionable tools for evaluating whether your current efforts align with who you want to be.

Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Reviews are pointless without forward motion. What are you working toward? If you have no goals, reviewing will feel aimless—like studying a map without a destination. For me, this involves examining active experiments, such as assessing the effectiveness of my GTD (Getting Things Done) system. Is it helping me stay organized and contribute meaningfully? Should I try a new tool, or is it time to move on from GTD entirely?

Choose Your Tools

The tools you use matter less than having a consistent process. That said, I’m a fan of Notion for automating steps in my reviews. My Notion setup includes databases for goals, objectives, projects, and experiments. These databases notify me when it’s time to review, and I can log insights directly on each item’s page for future reference.

Whatever tool you use, consistency is key. Schedule your review for the end or beginning of each month. This timing is ideal for reflecting on the past month’s progress and setting intentions for the next. I follow a simple “Reflect, Analyze, Adjust” framework when reflecting on each area of focus.

The Review Process: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Look Back (Reflect)

This stage focuses on evaluating the past month’s accomplishments and challenges:

• What did I achieve this month?
  Keep a running list of achievements, big or small. This list will serve as a source of motivation and a key input for annual reviews.
• What obstacles did I face, and how did I handle them?
  Challenges are opportunities for growth. Was a lack of knowledge or a missing perspective the root cause? Use this insight to shape future goals.
• Did my efforts align with my core values and objectives?
  Alignment is crucial. Misaligned efforts often lead to frustration or burnout. This question ensures you’re spending energy on what truly matters.

Step 2: Analyze Patterns

In this phase, look for patterns in your productivity, habits, and decision-making.

• What contributed to my successes?
  Identify repeatable strategies that made progress easier.
• What caused procrastination or setbacks?
  Understand the root causes of delays, whether they stemmed from poor planning, fear, or lack of clarity.

I also analyze data from my health metrics (e.g., sleep and workouts). My Oura Ring helps track sleep quality, providing insights into how my recovery supports my productivity. For workouts, I ensure I maintain a consistent workload while allowing adequate recovery.

Step 3: Adjust Your Approach

Finally, make adjustments based on your findings:

• Shift deadlines or due dates if necessary.
• Update or remove goals that no longer align with your priorities.
• Let go of projects that aren’t serving your growth.

Tools and Templates to Simplify Reviews

As I have already mentioned, the tools that you use for this process are not as critical as the process itself. That being said, I do love some good software that supports my efforts. I do believe in owning my data and prefer not to put my information into a company's servers. Project tracking and reviews are some of the exceptions I make while other local first tools continue to add functionality (ahem... Anytype).

Digital Tools

• Notion: Automate reminders and organize reflections in structured databases.
• Google Sheets/Excel: Create charts to track trends over time.
• Text Editors: Simplicity works too; jot down notes in a format that works for you.
  

Example Template

Section 1: Achievements
- What went well this month?

Section 2: Challenges and Lessons Learned
- What obstacles did I encounter?
- What insights did I gain?

Section 3: Adjustments for Next Month
- What will I keep doing, start doing, and stop doing?

Section 4: Core Values Check-in
- How well did my efforts align with my values?

Key Benefits and Challenges of Monthly Reviews

Practical Benefits

Monthly reviews aren't just about reflection—they're tools for growth:

Improved Focus: Zero in on your highest-impact activities by analyzing what worked and what didn’t.

Better Decision-Making: Use insights to realign goals and eliminate distractions.

Steady Progress: Avoid feeling stuck by continuously recalibrating your direction.

Emotional Rewards

Reflection isn't purely practical; it offers emotional benefits:

Clarity: Gain peace of mind by aligning actions with core values.

Confidence: Celebrate wins, big and small, to stay motivated.

Resilience: Turn challenges into learning opportunities.

Overcoming Common Challenges

While the benefits are plenty, hurdles are inevitable. Here’s how to address them:

Procrastination: Pair reviews with a routine, like journaling on the last Sunday of the month.

Overthinking: Focus on actionable insights rather than perfection.

Inconsistent Structure: Stick to a template that resonates with you, ensuring every review covers the essentials.

Lessons Learned: Why Reviews Work

When I first started, my reviews were overly detailed and time-consuming. Over time, I learned to simplify the process. Instead of striving for perfection, I focus on consistency and actionable takeaways.

Here’s one example: I recently experimented with keeping my fitness watch data in an online data analysis tool called Metabase. After reviewing the process, I determined that the time-consuming effort of entering my data into Metabase was not worth the effort when I could get most of the same analysis directly from Garmin. Pretty simple, right?

Conclusion: The Power of Monthly Reflection

Monthly reviews are more than a task on your calendar—they’re your opportunity to steer life with intention. By reflecting on your past actions, analyzing trends, and adjusting your course, you can ensure your energy is focused on what truly matters.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small: reflect, learn, and grow. Over time, you’ll develop a habit that transforms your approach to personal growth, helping you make meaningful strides toward your goals.