40 End of Year Questions for Couples to Look Back and Plan Ahead

20 October 2026

Here are 40 end of year questions for couples, sorted from light to deeper, so you can look back on the year together and decide what you want from the next one. Pick a handful, sit down with a cuppa (or something cold, if it’s already warm where you are), take turns, and stop whenever it stops being fun. Either of you can pass on any question, any time.

For many of us in Australia the year winds down fast: work functions, school concerts, Christmas shopping, family logistics, then the long summer break. A short, gentle check-in before the rush makes it easier to enjoy the break once it arrives.

TL;DR

Start with the light, funny questions about the year before moving to anything heavier.

Take turns, keep each answer short, and listen before you reply.

Passing is always fine. No explanation needed.

Ten to twenty minutes is plenty. Do it before the holiday rush, not in the middle of it.

Finish with something you’re grateful for and one small plan for the new year.

How to use these questions

You don’t need to get through all 40. Choose a few from each section, or let the mood decide. A few simple ground rules help:

Keep it short. One or two sentences per answer is often enough.
Take turns. One person asks, both answer, then swap.
Pass freely. If a question doesn’t feel right tonight, say “pass” and move on. Nobody needs to justify it.
Listen first. Resist the urge to correct or defend. This is about hearing each other’s version of the year.
Pick a good moment. After dinner on a quiet evening, on a walk, or at the beach beats the car ride to a family gathering.

Light and funny: the year in review

Start here. These are easy wins that get you both talking and laughing about the last twelve months.

What was the best meal we had this year?
What’s the funniest thing that happened to us this year?
Which show, book or podcast did you get most into this year?
What was the best thing you bought this year? And the worst?
If our year had a theme song, what would it be?
What’s one small thing that made you smile this year that I might not know about?
Which place we went to (even just locally) would you happily visit again?
What did we do this year that past-us would never have believed?

Looking back together

Now a little more reflective. These help you notice the things that are easy to forget when life is busy.

What’s a moment from this year you’d love to relive?
What was the hardest stretch of the year, and what got us through it?
When did you feel closest to me this year?
What’s something we did well as a team?
What did you learn about yourself this year?
What did you learn about us?
Is there something you’re proud of that you haven’t really celebrated?
What’s something you wish we’d done more of?

Saying thank you

It’s easy to skip appreciation when you’re both tired. This section is short on purpose, and it’s often the part people remember.

What’s something I did this year that you really appreciated?
What’s a small, everyday thing I do that makes your life easier?
When did I surprise you in a good way?
Is there something you’ve been meaning to thank me for?
What’s something about me that you’re grateful for right now?

Looking ahead

With the year behind you, turn towards the next one. Keep it hopeful rather than a to-do list.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to next year?
What’s one place you’d love to go, near or far?
What’s something new you’d like us to try together?
What would make next year feel like a good year for you?
Is there a habit or routine you’d like us to build, like a weekly date or a regular walk?
What do you want more of next year, and what do you want less of?
What’s a small goal you’d like me to cheer you on with?
How would you like us to spend the summer break?

Deeper check-in

Only go here if you both feel up for it. These are the questions that take a little more trust, so go slowly and remember that passing is always okay.

Is there anything from this year you’d like to talk through that we haven’t had a chance to?
When did you feel most understood by me? When did you feel least?
What’s something you’ve been carrying that you’d like to share?
How are you really feeling about the end of the year?
What do you need from me in the busy weeks ahead?
Is there anything about the holidays, such as family, money or time, that’s weighing on you?
What’s something you’d like us to be gentler with each other about?

Warm and a little flirty to finish

End on a lighter, closer note. Keep it tasteful and let the other person set the pace.

What’s your favourite memory of us from this year?
What’s something I do that still makes you a bit weak at the knees?
If we had a completely free weekend, how would you want to spend it with me?
What’s one thing you’d like us to do together before the year is out?

Making it a yearly ritual

An end of year check-in works best when it becomes a small tradition. A few ideas:

Pick a regular time. The first weekend of December, or the week school finishes, works for plenty of couples.
Add a treat. Fish and chips by the water, a picnic, or takeaway on the balcony turns it into an occasion.
Write down one thing each. One highlight from the year and one hope for the next. Tuck it somewhere you’ll find it again in twelve months.
Keep it kind. If something tricky comes up, you can agree to come back to it another day.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to do an end of year check-in?

Before the busiest stretch, so you’re not squeezing it in between parties and packing. Late November or early December suits many people, but any calm evening works.

How long should it take?

Ten to twenty minutes is plenty. A few good answers beat a marathon. You can always continue another night.

What if one of us doesn’t want to answer a question?

That’s completely fine. Passing is part of the deal. A simple “pass” is enough, and the other person can move on to the next question without any fuss.

What if the year was a hard one?

Start with the light and thankful sections, and only move to the deeper ones if you both want to. You don’t have to wrap the year up neatly. Sometimes the most useful question is simply, “What do you need from me right now?”

Try it with Candid

If you’d rather not scroll a list, Candid is a private connection game for couples. You draw prompts together from one shared deck on a single phone, across four categories: Icebreaker, Deep Truths, Flirty Dares and Intimate. Take turns drawing, pass anytime, and there’s no scoreboard. There’s also a Desires match, where you each pick privately and only the choices you both made are shown. Nothing leaves your phone, and no data is collected. Candid is available for iPhone (iOS 18 or later).