Lunar New Year Reflections Retrospective

Celebrate, reflect, and set fresh intentions together.

Use this template in TeamRetro

Sweep It Away

What old habits or frustrations should we leave behind?

Let's leave behind those last-minute scope changes that derailed our sprints.
I want to sweep away the habit of skipping our daily standups.
Too many meetings that could have been a quick message — time to clear them out.
Lucky Wins

What went well and brought us fortune this past year?

Launching the new feature ahead of schedule was a huge win for us.
Our pairing sessions really lifted code quality across the team.
We finally cracked the deployment process and it's been smooth since.
Gratitude & Red Envelopes

Who or what are we grateful for this year?

Grateful to Mai for always jumping in to help debug under pressure.
Thank you to the whole team for covering while I was on leave.
I appreciated how supportive everyone was during the tough release week.
Wishes for the New Year

What do we hope to achieve in the year ahead?

I'd love for us to ship our first major release before mid-year.
My wish is for fewer interruptions and more deep-focus time.
Let's grow our test coverage so releases feel less stressful.

What is the Lunar New Year Reflections retrospective

Ring in the Year ahead with a retrospective that blends cultural celebration with meaningful team reflection. Lunar New Year is a time of fresh starts, gratitude, and renewed hope across many cultures in East and Southeast Asia — a perfect moment for your team to pause, look back on the year that has passed, and look forward to new beginnings. This format channels that spirit of renewal into a structured conversation that helps teams close out the old cycle and step into the new one with clarity and shared purpose. Inspired by traditions such as sweeping out the old to welcome the new, sharing wishes for prosperity, and honouring achievements with red envelopes of good fortune, the activity guides your team through four themed reflections. Participants reflect on what they want to leave behind, what brought them luck and success, what they are grateful for, and what they hope to achieve in the year ahead. Each topic is designed to be inclusive and lighthearted while surfacing genuine insights that drive continuous improvement. Whether your team observes Lunar New Year or simply wants a seasonal, celebratory way to reset, this retrospective creates space for connection, gratitude, and forward planning. By the end, your team will have cleared away lingering frustrations, recognised wins, and committed to clear goals — all framed within the joyful, optimistic mood of the new year.

Lunar New Year Reflections retrospective format

Sweep It Away

What old habits or frustrations should we leave behind?

Drawing on the tradition of cleaning the home before the new year to sweep out bad luck, this topic invites the team to name what is no longer serving them. Encourage honesty without blame — focus on processes, habits, and friction points the team is ready to release. Frame it as making space for better things ahead.

Lucky Wins

What went well and brought us fortune this past year?

Like the gold and prosperity symbols of the season, this topic celebrates the achievements, lucky breaks, and successes the team experienced. Encourage everyone to recognise both big milestones and small everyday wins, and to acknowledge the people and decisions behind them.

Gratitude & Red Envelopes

Who or what are we grateful for this year?

Red envelopes symbolise giving good fortune and appreciation to others. Use this topic to foster a culture of recognition — invite team members to thank colleagues, acknowledge support, and celebrate the moments that made work meaningful. Keep it warm and personal.

Wishes for the New Year

What do we hope to achieve in the year ahead?

This topic captures the team's hopes, goals, and intentions for the coming year, in the spirit of new year wishes for prosperity and growth. Encourage aspirational but actionable ideas, and look for themes that can be turned into shared goals and concrete next steps.

When to use this retrospective

  • At the start of the Lunar New Year period to mark a seasonal reset and welcome new beginnings with your team.
  • As an end-of-year or year-in-review retrospective when you want a celebratory, reflective tone rather than a standard sprint review.
  • When team morale needs a boost through gratitude, recognition, and a sense of fresh momentum.
  • To kick off annual planning by surfacing what to leave behind and what to aim for in the coming year.

Suggested icebreaker questions

  • Which animal of the Lunar New Year zodiac best matches your work style, and why?
  • What is one tradition or food you associate with celebrating a fresh start?

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

  • Set the scene with festive visuals or a short note about Lunar New Year traditions so everyone understands the theme and intent.
  • Be inclusive — acknowledge that not everyone celebrates Lunar New Year, and frame the activity as a universal opportunity for reflection and renewal.
  • Encourage genuine appreciation in the Gratitude topic by giving everyone a moment of quiet thinking time before sharing.
  • Keep the 'Sweep It Away' discussion blame-free by focusing on processes and habits rather than individuals.
  • Turn 'Wishes for the New Year' into concrete actions by grouping similar hopes and assigning owners and timelines.
  • Timebox each topic to keep the energy high and ensure you reach the forward-looking discussion before time runs out.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Lunar New Year Reflections retrospective?
It is a seasonal, celebration-themed retrospective that uses Lunar New Year traditions to help teams let go of old frustrations, celebrate wins, express gratitude, and set goals for the year ahead.
When should I run this retrospective?
It works best around the Lunar New Year period or as a year-in-review session when you want a celebratory, forward-looking tone to reset and plan for the coming year.
Do team members need to celebrate Lunar New Year to take part?
No. While it draws on Lunar New Year traditions, the format is inclusive and centres on universal themes of reflection, gratitude, and fresh beginnings that any team can relate to.
How long does this retrospective take?
Most teams complete it in 45 to 60 minutes, depending on team size and how much discussion each topic generates.
How is it different from a standard sprint retrospective?
Unlike a sprint retro that focuses on a single iteration, this format takes a broader, seasonal view of the past year and pairs improvement with celebration and gratitude.
How do I turn the reflections into actions?
Group similar ideas from the 'Wishes for the New Year' topic, vote on priorities, and assign owners and timelines so your new year intentions become concrete next steps.

New to retrospectives? Read our guide on how to run a retrospective →

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