Reflect, Release, and Re-Imagine Your Year: Why We Love the YearCompass Tool

Vienna Michaelsen
Dec 22, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

As we finish one year (Breathe’s first year) and begin another, many of us feel a mix of relief, hope, and uncertainty. What did we learn this year? What matters most? And where do we want to go next? If you’ve ever felt like your years fly by in a blur, or you start January with big intentions that fade by February… You’re not alone.

Here at Breathe, we love intentionality. Something we use to review, release, and re-imagine this and the next year is: YearCompass. It’s a free, guided annual review and planning tool that has helped millions of people around the world reflect on the year that’s ending and intentionally plan the year ahead.

What Is YearCompass?

YearCompass is a thoughtfully designed 20-page PDF booklet that invites you to slow down, look back, and look forward. It uses a series of guided questions and exercises to help you:

Reflect deeply on your experiences, accomplishments, challenges, and relationships from the past year
Celebrate victories you may have overlooked
Learn from difficulties without judgment
Clarify your intentions, hopes, and priorities for the coming year
Set meaningful goals grounded in your values rather than vague resolutions

The idea is simple: instead of forgetting the year you just lived or rushing straight into the next one, you take time to close the chapter with awareness and purpose. Many people find this process more effective and fulfilling than traditional New Year’s resolutions, which often fade without deeper reflection to support them.

Why It’s Helpful

YearCompass gives structure to reflection. When life gets busy, it’s easy to miss how far you’ve come or to repeat patterns you didn’t intend. This booklet gives you intentional space to pause, look at your year as a whole, and thoughtfully answer questions about your experiences and aspirations.

It helps you connect your past to your future. Instead of skipping straight to goals, YearCompass walks you through meaningful reflection first - so your next year grows out of clarity rather than wishing.

You can do it alone or with others. Some people work through YearCompass on their own with a journal and a cup of coffee. Others make it a tradition with friends, family, or support groups - creating rich conversations about growth, meaning, and goals.

It’s accessible and free. YearCompass is offered at no cost and available in many languages - so anyone can use it as part of their year-end ritual.

Download Your YearCompass PDFs

We’ve gathered the printable versions here so you can download and use them (in English, Tagalog, and Spanish). See the end for how to print the small booklet size.

Tips for Using YearCompass

☕ Find a quiet block of time. Set aside at least a couple of hours - it’s not something to rush. Treat it like a conversation with yourself.

📝 Write by hand if you can. Some people find handwritten notes help make the reflection more meaningful and memorable.

💬 Share and discuss it. Consider doing YearCompass with a partner, friend, or community group and talk through your reflections and goals afterward.

🔁 Revisit throughout the year. YearCompass isn’t just a one-time exercise - keep it somewhere you can review it periodically to stay grounded in what matters most.

Whether you’re grieving losses, celebrating wins, navigating big transitions, or simply yearning for direction, YearCompass can help you see your year in full and step into the next one with clarity and intention.

Here’s to a reflective ending, a hopeful beginning, and a new year shaped by purpose!

-V

How to print the small booklet size:

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