An after-action report (AAR) is a military term for reviewing and analyzing a mission.

What is your AAR for 2024?

Start with any goals you established at the beginning of the year or that you carried over from the previous year.

Did you accomplish that goal or goals?

Before you turn this into an opportunity to feel bad about not accomplishing a goal, add one additional step and question to the process.

What challenges did you face this year?

Was there a medical, financial, work, or family-related situation that influenced your year?

Too often, we frame any change to the plan as an excuse instead of a potentially legitimate reason for the change—something to consider.

How many training sessions did you have in 2024?

If you hit around 150, you trained thrice a week for 50 weeks out of the year. Remember that consistency might not look consistent in the short term but “becomes” consistent over time.

Did you have a goal number of sessions for 2024, and how did you do?

Perform your AAR, and now look forward.

What worked well from the previous year, and what can you identify as an area of opportunity? Was consistency a problem? If it were, then that alone would be a fantastic goal for 2025. Get consistent because everything else flows from there.

Where do you want your focus for 2025? Is there a new kettlebell, barbell, or bodyweight skill you want to “unlock” in 2025?

There is a “blank slate” ahead of you. What will be written on it by the end of the following year?

Let us know on the StrongFirst Forum 2024 AAR thread where the AAR and plan for 2025 can be shared.