Year Compass

A year review you actually come back to.

This is a free Google Sheets planner for one quiet hour at the end of the year. Look back on your wins, hard moments and lessons. Set three goals with a small first step. Then check in once a month, in five minutes.

Who it is for

• Freelancers and VAs planning a better next year
• Students thinking about the next school year
• Solopreneurs who want three clear goals, not thirty
• You, if your goals from January were forgotten by March

The problem it solves

Big goal lists feel good on January 1 and vanish by March. There is no check in, so a small slip turns into giving up. This sheet keeps you to three goals and gives you a five minute monthly check in where Behind is a signal, not a failure.

What is inside

• Start Here tab. Three setup steps, the year to review, the year ahead and your preset.
• Presets. Freelancer or VA, Student or Solopreneur. Some prompts change to fit your life.
• Look Back tab. Short prompts for wins, hard moments, lessons, people who helped, numbers that matter, what to let go of and one word.
• Look Ahead tab. Three goals, why each matters, a first small step, by when and how you will measure it. Plus habits that help and what you will say no to.
• Monthly Check In tab. Your three goals show up here on their own. Mark each one On track, Behind, Done or Paused. Write one win and one change.
• Progress on top. Prompts answered, goals done, goals on track and months checked in.
• Fix it box. Quick answers for common problems, right inside the file.

How it works on your phone

The first hour is easier on a laptop, but your monthly check in works well in the free Google Sheets app. Open Monthly Check In, pick a status for each goal and type one win. No scripts, no forms and no buttons.

What you get

• One Google Sheet with 4 tabs: Start Here, Look Back, Look Ahead and Monthly Check In
• Three presets with prompts that fit your life
• A copy link that puts your own copy in your Google Drive
• Email support from a real person

Questions people ask

Does it work in Excel?

It is made for Google Sheets and tested there. You can download your copy as an Excel file from the File menu, and the numbers still work. Some colours, charts or dropdowns may look different in Excel, so we only promise full support in Google Sheets.

Can I use it on my phone?

Yes. Daily use works in the free Google Sheets app. To make your copy, open the copy link in your phone browser, not the app, because the app hides the Make a copy option.

Do I need a Google account?

Yes. A free Google account is enough.

Can I use it next year again?

Yes. Make a fresh copy and change the Year to review. Keep the old one as your record.

Can I start in the middle of the year?

Yes. Set your goals now and start your check ins this month.

What if I paid and changed my mind?

It is free, so you never have to pay. If you chose to pay something, you get a full refund within 14 days. No questions asked. Just reply to your receipt or email us.

How do I get help?

Email [email protected]. We reply within 24 hours.