I don't know about you, but somehow the end of one year and start of a new one always seems to sneak upon me. 2026 is here—and if you're like me, you're still accidentally writing '2025' on everything. But before we get too far into the new year, let's pause for some meaningful reflection. Below you'll find a special printable I designed just for this purpose with three powerful prompts to help you: celebrate your biggest win from 2025, let go of what didn't serve you, and set five aspirations to go into the new year.

I'll walk you through each section below with examples from my own reflection, but first—scroll down and snag your copy so you can follow along! It's free for subscribers!

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Now, let's break down each prompt and how it can transform your view on the year…

Often a new year is viewed as a fresh start. A do over. But do we really start from scratch? Reflect back on the past year. What was one of your biggest accomplishments? What is an aspect of this you can bring into your activities for this year? We've probably all seen the trending reels - what I'm bringing into the new year etc - but it really is a good question. This might relate to our business or to personal life.

For me, in my business KtC Designs, a big win was seeing my first actual sales trickle in from Spoonflower and Etsy. What can I bring from this? That drive to continue putting my art out there and sharing with the world. Personally, a big win was seeing the love and excitement in our children's faces when they learned we'd be welcoming another baby in this family. Unexpected surprises can bring the greatest joy and I want to bring that love and closeness in our family into this year and every year in the future.

This section is to help us reflect on what maybe didn't work so well. Not every year is sunshine and roses! Being honest with yourself is what leads to growth. And as humans, we are constantly growing and learning. From a business standpoint, this may include processes we want to improve, software/equipment that just isn't cutting it, sales avenues that just aren't worth the time and effort. The list goes on.

I am reminded this past year that I cannot do all the things. I need to maintain balance between my business and personal family life. Unexpected things can (and did!) pop up. Flying by the seat of my pants will not work and is not sustainable, so I'm learning from the past year that I need to structure my days and week to find that necessary balance.

On a personal note, I hope to leave broken bones a thing of the past! 2025 held a few too many doctor visits for my 5-year-old and myself that I do not care to repeat. (Though my realistic self acknowledges freak accidents could happen again.) Thanks to all the unexpected surprises, my poor gardens had gone to waste after all the effort I put in in the spring to restructure them and plant. This year, I simply look to keep it simple and maintain the foundations I've created. See? Learning from the failures!

Why did I choose this word? Why not goals? Or resolutions? Even tasks? While there is nothing wrong with these terms, for me they do not hold the right meaning when I plan my year. Goals are necessary in life, but do we feel at times like we failed when we cannot reach them as expected? As for resolutions, or promises, if we fail to reach those then we've broken a promise to ourselves and may feel shame. And tasks? Well, life is not a drill sergeant barking commands, and the year may change that we simply cannot do it all.

Aspirations is more closely aligned with the word HOPE. What do I hope for in this year? Not a vague dream, but something concrete I can aspire to accomplish. Keep that positivity (with a dose of realism) as you complete this section. I've provided space for five, but no one says to limit yourself!

In a personal realm, my husband and I aspire to have a family vacation of some sort this year. Unexpected things prevented that last year in 2025, but it is memories we want to create with our children.

So, in the end, I hope you can use this printable to help you reflect and build aspirations for the future. Be sure to follow on Instagram and subscribe to KtC Creatives for more printables to come and creative inspiration!

Thank you for joining me today and I hope you all have wonderful and creative days ahead!