An Annual Life Map is a yearly holistic review of your life that enables you to take a step back, reflect and recalibrate every year (doesn’t have to be in January). This is not a goal-setting exercise, it’s a review, a chance to look back and consider your life as you see it.
There is no impetus to take actions based on the results although for most, there will be a natural inclination to take actions based on the learnings and self-awareness gained. It is up to you, the owner of your life and annual life map!
I find it a useful tool similar to a compass, reminding me if I am going in the right direction and if not, guiding me back onto the path.
Thank you to Mike, a mentor, brother and constant source of encouragement and prayer for sharing this gift with me.
The Key Areas of an Annual Life Map
The Annual Life Map consists of seven key areas:
- Work
- Finances
- Relationships
- Health
- Faith
- Education
- Purpose
The order above is intentional although you can complete it in any order that fills right. Often people find that you complete it initially, reflect then find yourself returning to rework it, make tweaks, and improve it until it feels right.
This exercise is designed to be completed individually although revealing some or all to a partner, spouse or colleague could be done at your discretion.
How to complete an Annual Life Map
Below are a series of sections corresponding to different areas of your life, each section has questions to answer to help you complete your Annual Life Map. I recommend finding a quiet place for at least 2 hours to complete it without distraction. If easier, write these questions on paper if your laptop or phone is a primary source of distraction.
Work
Make four lists. When you think you have run out of ideas, pause and then carry on!
| What am I very good at? | What am I not very good at? |
| What do I enjoy doing? | What don’t I enjoy doing? |
This exercise will start to give you ideas about what brings you energy and what drains your energy. What things you want to do more of and what things would you rather do less of or not at all. You will either begin to smile or frown unhappy at what you see.
Either way, it can spark ideas of things you might like to do, from starting a business to dancing more often.
From now on your life will focus on things that you are good at and things you enjoy doing. Everything else will be dropped, avoided or delegated. Consider who you can delegate things to. For example, if your inbox and calendar are a source of stress and anxiety, perhaps you could hire a part-time virtual assistant. Or if finance is something you detest, perhaps ask your partner to help you out or hire an accountant.
Finances
Most people get this section wrong initially, I highly advise using Google Sheets, Excel or a Salary Calculator to more accurately capture your financial aspirations.
INCOME
The first step is understanding how much income you desire each year to both cover your living expenses and aspirational lifestyle.
You want to list out the key areas of costs so that you can more accurately capture the cost of your aspirational lifestyle. Things to consider are:
- Rent or mortgage
- Childcare fees
- Travel expenses (car etc)
- Gym membership
- Utility bills
- 2-3 holidays per year
- Clothing
- Groceries
- Entertainment
- Memberships & Subscriptions
You will quickly realise that 99% of people don’t need to become millionaires to achieve their desired lifestyle. Especially, if you are flexible on where you live!
Below is an example of how to break down annual and monthly costs, gross then net.
| YEARLY | MONTHLY | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | ||
| Pension Deductions | ||
| Taxable Income | ||
| Tax | ||
| National Insurance | ||
| Student Loan | ||
| Net Income | ||
| Living Expenses | ||
| Savings |
ASSETS
Secondly, to understand where you are today financially, list out your assets and capital. This could include:
- Businesses you own
- Businesses you have invested in (and have minority ownership)
- Stocks and Shares
- Property
- Pension
- Savings
Relationships
Write how you feel about three types of relationships around you:
- Romantic relationship: either with a current partner or your desired one
- Family: list who they are and your last memory with them
- Friends: closest friends including those you haven’t seen or spoken to in ages but feel you should soon
When reflecting on the list above think about:
- When did you last see them?
- How often do you see them?
- How do you maintain or enrich these relationships?
- What value do you receive?
- What value do you give?
- If you value the relationship, how do you show appreciation?
- What commitments do you want to honour going forward?
Health
Do you feel fit and healthy? If so, great, what are things you need to maintain?
If not, what are the things you need to change?
Think broadly about trips to doctors, dentists, opticians, gyms, running, taking up sport, yoga, changing your diet, fasting etc.
Faith
What do you have faith in and why?
Beyond yourself, what do you believe?
Based on the above, do you need to make more effort to have quite time/ meditate/ pray/ learn from the source?
I believe in God and therefore pray and study the Bible regularly.
Learning
Life is more than work, what hobbies would you love to pick up? What would you love to learn?
A Language; to sing; play a musical instrument; about indigenous tribes / wisdom; psychology – anything
Purpose
- What is the point of me?
- What is my genius?
- What do I want to achieve in my life?
- What makes me angry?
- Who do I passionately want to help?
- How can I use my talents and contacts to do so.
Fill in the blanks: I believe I was born to_______ through serving _______ because I care deeply about ______. The two words that describe my genius are _____ __________ .
For example: I believe I was born to create access to opportunity through serving people from diverse backgrounds because I deeply care about the fact that talent is widely distributed but access to opportunity isn’t. The two words that describe my genius are authentic connections.
That concludes the Annual Life Map.