The end of the year feels different. It is slower, quieter, and more thoughtful. You start thinking about what you did, what you missed, what made you happy, and what you want to change.
This is why the end of the year is one of the best times to open your bullet journal.
An end-of-year bullet journal is not about making perfect pages. It is about closing one chapter properly before starting a new one. It helps you reflect, understand yourself better, and feel mentally lighter before the new year begins.
In this blog, you will find practical and easy end-of-year bullet journal ideas, along with simple steps on how to execute each spread.
Table of Contents
Why Create an End-of-Year Bullet Journal?
Before jumping into ideas, it helps to know why this matters.
An end-of-year bullet journal helps you:
- Look back at your year honestly
- Learn from mistakes without judging yourself
- Celebrate small wins
- Let go of emotional baggage
- Enter the new year with clarity
Think of it as a mental reset, not a productivity task.
1. Year-at-a-Glance Reflection
This is the foundation spread of your end-of-year journaling.
What it is
A single or double-page overview of your entire year.
How to execute it
- Divide the page into 12 sections (one for each month)
- In each section, write:
- One important event
- One emotion you felt strongly
- One lesson learned
- One important event
You don’t need full sentences. Short phrases are enough.
This spread helps you see patterns—good months, tough months, and turning points.
2. Wins of the Year (Big and Small)
Many people remember failures more than achievements. This spread fixes that.
How to execute it
- Title the page: “My Wins This Year”
- Create two columns:
- Big Wins
- Small Wins
- Big Wins
Examples:
- Big win: Finished a degree, got a job, published work
- Small win: Started journaling, woke up early more often, learned to say no
Write without filtering. Even surviving a hard year is a win.
3. Lessons the Year Taught Me
This is one of the most powerful end-of-year spreads.
How to execute it
- Write the heading: “Lessons from This Year”
- List 5–10 lessons
Use prompts like:
- This year taught me that…
- I learned the hard way that…
- One truth I now accept is…
Keep it honest. This page is for you, not for aesthetics.
4. Habit Tracker Review
Instead of making new habit trackers immediately, review the old ones.
How to execute it
- List habits you tracked this year
- Next to each habit, answer:
- Did it work?
- Why or why not?
- Should I continue it next year?
- Did it work?
This helps you stop repeating habits that don’t fit your life.
5. Mood & Energy Patterns
This spread helps you understand your emotional rhythm.
How to execute it
- Draw a simple graph or list months vertically
- For each month, note:
- General mood (calm, stressed, happy, low)
- Energy level (high, medium, low)
- General mood (calm, stressed, happy, low)
Then answer:
- Which months drained me the most?
- When did I feel most alive?
This helps you plan the next year more realistically.
6. Things That Drained Me
This spread is about awareness, not blame.
How to execute it
- Title the page: “What Drained Me This Year”
- List things like:
- Certain people
- Overworking
- Poor sleep
- Social media overuse
- Saying yes too often
- Certain people
Once written, add one line at the end:
“What I will protect myself from next year”
7. Things That Gave Me Joy
Balance the previous page with positivity.
How to execute it
- Create a simple list or mind map
- Include:
- Activities
- People
- Places
- Small moments
- Activities
This page reminds you what deserves more space in your life.
8. Unfinished Goals & Tasks
Not everything gets completed, and that’s okay.
How to execute it
- Divide the page into two sections:
- Still Important
- No Longer Important
- Still Important
List unfinished goals and decide where they belong.
This helps you stop carrying guilt into the new year.
9. Gratitude Wrap-Up
End the year with gratitude, not pressure.
How to execute it
- Write 10–20 things you are grateful for from the year
- Mix big and small:
- Supportive people
- Lessons
- Quiet moments
- Personal growth
- Supportive people
Write slowly. Feel each point.
10. Letters to Yourself
This is a deeply emotional but healing spread.
Options you can try:
- Letter to your past self (January-you)
- Letter to your present self
- Letter to your future self
How to execute it
Write freely. Don’t worry about grammar or structure. This page is about closure.
11. Favorite Memories Page
Memories fade faster than we think.
How to execute it
- Title: “Moments I Want to Remember”
- Write short descriptions of:
- Trips
- Conversations
- Achievements
- Quiet happy moments
- Trips
You can add small doodles or symbols if you like.
12. Emotional Release Page
This page is not meant to be neat.
How to execute it
- Write everything you want to leave behind:
- Fear
- Regret
- Anger
- Self-doubt
- Fear
At the end, draw a line and write:
“I choose to let this go.”
You can even tear this page later if it feels right.
13. Personal Growth Tracker
Look at how you changed as a person.
How to execute it
Create sentences like:
- I am better at ___ than I was last year
- I handled ___ more maturely
- I learned to ___
This builds confidence and self-awareness.
14. Vision for the Next Year (Gentle Version)
This is not a strict goal-setting page.
How to execute it
Instead of “goals,” write:
- How I want to feel next year
- What kind of life I want
- What I want more of
- What I want less of
This keeps the pressure low and intention clear.
15. One Word for the Next Year
End your journal section with one powerful word.
Examples:
- Calm
- Growth
- Focus
- Healing
- Balance
Write it boldly in the center of the page.
This word becomes your emotional compass for the new year.
Final Thoughts
Your end-of-year bullet journal does not need perfect handwriting or fancy layouts. It needs honesty, time, and intention.
Take one or two spreads each day. Sit with your thoughts. Let the year end gently.
When you close your journal after these pages, you will not just be ending a year—you will be making space for a better beginning.
And that is what journaling is really about.
