How to run it
- Pick eight or so. Most from the year list, a couple from the friends list. Put in one only your lot would get, like "most likely to mention Lisbon".
- Send the link a few days ahead. People vote better with time to think back over the year, and you won't be chasing votes over dinner.
- Or do it at the table. Ten minutes before pudding, everyone gets their phone out. The awards go up the moment the last person submits.
- Read them out one at a time. Put the results on the telly or pass a phone round. Each award saves as an image for the group chat.
Keeping it kind
A year has bad bits in it. Somebody's lost a job or a parent, or split up. Don't make an award that points at that, even fondly. "Best comeback" can go wrong too. Only use it if you know the person would want it.
Year in review
Looking back at the year, for the last night out.
- Most likely to say "this is my year" again in January
- Most likely to have a new hobby by March
- Most likely to have moved house by next Christmas
- Most likely to organise next year's reunion
- Most likely to still be talking about the summer
- Most likely to forget what happened in January
- Most likely to have kept a resolution
- Most likely to have changed jobs by next December
- Most voice notes sent this year
- Biggest glow-up of the year
- Best decision of the year
- Best holiday photo of the year
- Best new habit
- Best recommendation of the year
- Most dramatic haircut
- Most improved
- Biggest surprise of the year
- Most missed when they weren't there
Friends
For the group chat that's known each other too long.
- Most likely to miss the flight
- Most likely to text "here" while still at home
- Most likely to befriend the bartender
- Most likely to start a podcast
- Most likely to cry at an advert
- Most likely to survive a zombie apocalypse
- Most likely to go viral by accident
- Most likely to say "one more" and mean five
- Most likely to leave the group chat on read
- Most likely to plan the whole trip
- Most likely to lose their phone on a night out
- Most likely to become famous
- Most likely to adopt a third pet
- Most likely to send a voice note longer than four minutes
- Most likely to know everyone's business
- Most likely to fall asleep first at the sleepover
- Best at giving advice
- Best dance moves
- Worst sense of direction
- Best laugh
Family
Reunions, Christmas dinner, the cousins' chat.
- Most likely to be late to dinner
- Most likely to start a debate at the table
- Most likely to take a hundred photos
- Most likely to fall asleep on the sofa
- Most likely to forget someone's name
- Most likely to bring too much food
- Most likely to call instead of text
- Most likely to win the board game
- Most likely to tell the same story again
- Most likely to sneak a second dessert
- Most likely to fix everyone's tech
- Best cook
- Best storyteller
- Best hugger
- Most competitive
- Funniest
Questions
What should end of year awards be about?
Things that happened this year, like the trip or the haircut nobody's mentioned since. Mix in a few from the friends list, and one or two kind ones so the quieter people win something.
Can we vote on the night?
Yes. Everyone opens the link and votes on their phone, and the awards unveil once the last person submits. Eight awards take a few minutes. If someone's left early, the organiser can unveil without them.
Do I need everyone's numbers or emails?
No. You type in first names and send one link to the group chat. Nobody signs up. Each person picks their own name when they open it.
Who sees how I voted?
Nobody, the organiser included. The results show how many votes each person got for each award, never who voted for whom.
Is it free?
Yes, and there's nothing to install. Sets are deleted after 60 days, so save the images if you want to keep them.