Couple Year in Review: Questions and Goals for Next Year

This free couple year in review is a guided date for two: 8 to 18 questions to look back on your year (best memories, hard parts, what you learned, thank yous), your year in one word, then one or two shared goals with a first step, an owner and a review date. You finish with a one-page summary to print, a recap image and calendar reminders. It takes 15 minutes to an hour, needs no sign-up, and your answers stay on your phone.

How does the year in review work?

1. Pick how long you have. 15 minutes (8 questions), 30 minutes (12) or an hour (18), and which year you are looking back on.
2. Look back, one question at a time. You take turns answering first. Swap any question you do not like, and tap the heart to keep a favorite. Notes are optional.
3. Your year in one word. Each of you picks a word and says it at the same time. Add the best moment and your song of the year.
4. Pick one or two goals. Start from ideas for connection, fun, money, home, health, family, growth, closeness, your first year or long distance, then give each one a first step, a time, an owner and a review date.
5. Keep it. Print the summary or save it as a PDF, add the reminders to your calendar, and come back on the review date to mark each goal on track, slipping or done.

What are good year in review questions for couples?

Good questions are specific and fair to both of you: a mix of highlights, honest hard parts and thank yous, with one look ahead at the end. A few from the tool:

• Which ordinary day this year turned out better than expected?
• Which hard moment did we handle well as a team?
• When did you feel most connected to me this year? And most distant?
• What did you learn about me this year?
• When did I make your day without knowing it?
• What is one word for our year? Say it at the same time.
• What do you need from me to have a good year?

Start with the warm ones. Hard questions go better once you both feel heard, and the tool puts them in the middle for that reason. Want more to talk about any night? See our questions to ask your partner or the 36 questions to fall in love.

What are some good marriage goals examples?

The goals that last are small, specific and tied to a time you already have. Some examples from the tool:

• Connection: a 15-minute check-in every Sunday after breakfast, phones away.
• Fun: a date every two weeks, taking turns to plan it.
• Money: a 30-minute money date on the first of each month.
• Home: each of you owns three recurring chores fully, no reminders needed.
• Health: a walk together after dinner, any weather that is not a storm.
• Long distance: plan the next visit before this one ends.

Pick one or two, not ten. Give each one an owner (the person who keeps it going, not the one who does all the work) and a date to check in, then decide together to keep it, change it or drop it. Need date ideas for the fun goal? Try our date night ideas at home.

When should we do a year in review?

Many couples do it between Christmas and New Year, or on their anniversary. Any calm evening works: pick a time with no rush, get a drink and a snack, and put your phones on silent once the questions are open. If one of you is away, do it over a video call: send the link and you both get the same questions in the same order. Counting the days until you are together again? The countdown until I see you helps, and the anniversary calculator shows how long you have been together.

What are the limits?

• Your answers are saved in this browser only. Print the summary or send yourself the link to keep a copy.
• Anyone with your link can read what is in it. Only send it to your partner.
• This is a conversation guide, not therapy. If the same hard topic keeps coming back, a couples therapist can help.
• The page does not send reminders itself. Add the calendar file so your phone reminds you.