Monthly reviews are one of those habits that sound great in theory but often feel like another task on the list. The problem is that most guides treat them as a time to cram in every metric, journal prompt, and habit tracker you can find. That’s not a ritual — that’s a second job.
In this post, I’ll show you how to build a monthly review that’s actually sustainable. The key is to keep it short, focused, and genuinely useful. You’ll use three simple views in Notion: a wins log, a lessons list, and a next-month focus. That’s it. No need to overhaul your entire workspace.
First, create a new database called ‘Monthly Review.’ Add properties for Date, Month, Wins, Lessons, and Focus (a relation to your projects or goals). Then, set up three views: one for wins, one for lessons, and one for the current month. The beauty of this is that you can log wins and lessons throughout the month as they happen, so the review itself takes less than 15 minutes.
When the end of the month rolls around, open the database and look at your wins. Write a short reflection: What did you enjoy? What made you proud? Then, scan the lessons. Pick one or two that actually matter for the month ahead. Finally, set your focus for next month — a single priority that you’ll keep in view.
The reason this works is that it’s built around reflection, not measurement. You’re not trying to optimize every hour; you’re just checking in with yourself. That’s the kind of sustainable practice that actually sticks.
If you want to go deeper, you can add a template button that auto-creates a new review entry each month. But start simple. The goal is to create a habit you’ll actually keep, not a system you’ll abandon by February.
For a ready-made version of this system, check out our Simple Life OS template. It includes the Monthly Review database pre-built, along with a daily planning page and a weekly reset. But even if you build it yourself, the core principle holds: keep it small, keep it honest, and make it yours.