I'm only recently getting really serious about confession so I'm not claiming great credit here. But, I found that the once a year is very difficult because it is hard to truly examine my conscience over that length of time - for one reason. It's difficult to do much more that a blanket coverage job.
It's more useful to take a shorter period of time, be more specific. And this helps to make me more aware of each day, each choice, each occassion or near occassion. I can remember last Tuesday pretty well.
There's also the clean car effect. If your spiritual state is "cleaned" by a full and sincere attempt at examination and confession, you're more apt to keep it clean. Over a longer period one more bag of chips on the floor is less noticable, and easier to throw down.
As I get older living daily in a state of grace has so much more value, living with an unconfessed sin adds a bit of hell to each day. And makes my conscious contact of God's presence more distant, like the distance between lovers when there is something between you.
What's important and unsaid in the article, I think, is the "bare minimum" brings only the bare minimum of life and God to our years. A sacramental life is not an obligation so much as it is a great gift and tool for this life.
FWIW.
Right now with Obama and the way all the inside guys are working together to dismantle the Republic, I would recommend going to Confession at least every three months. If I get to 1 month or 6 weeks, I know it is time to go.
Just remember that God forgives and FORGETS all your confessed sins!
Blessings to you