End-of-Year Survival Guide: Tips to Celebrate the Year and Prepare for the Next
I don’t know about you, but it’s been a bit intense for me as the end of the year approaches. I have a lot of projects to complete before the end of this week and that has the potential to overwhelm me. In the past, this would have completely stressed me out and drained me, but I’m finding this isn’t happening this year.
This is because of the way I manage my life and my well-being nowadays. I’m consistently doing the things that I coach and advise others to do. This is why I’m excited to have compiled this list of techniques that I find most effective for managing life during this stressful time of year.
You’ve worked hard all year, and this is the moment to take time to appreciate how far you’ve come.
Here are some tips to help you survive the end of the year with joy and gratitude.
Celebrate Your Accomplishments
As this year comes to an end, one of the best things you can do for your psyche is to reflect on and acknowledge the successes you’ve had this year, no matter how big or small.
Any projects you’ve worked on or completed should be acknowledged– both in your career and personal life. Maybe you finally cleaned out your hall closet or those boxes of junk in the attic. Maybe you finally got that raise you’ve been working so hard for! Or perhaps you’ve had a personal breakthrough that nobody else sees but you know has made a huge difference in the quality of your life.
This is the time to be proud of yourself! Without holding back. Acknowledge any progress you’ve made this year, and even more importantly, any challenges you’ve overcome.
I am a huge advocate for acknowledging your accomplishments. Within my coaching framework, I promote this concept all year round through exercises I refer to as “completion”. You can read more about it here.
Take a Break & Take Care of Yourself
It’s also important this time of year to give yourself permission to take a break from your responsibilities and obligations. There’s a reason we go on holiday at the end of the year, and it’s quite simply because we really need it!
Even if it’s just for an afternoon or a weekend staycation, it is crucial that you take the time to unplug and relax.
Making a conscious effort to get your mind off work and the stress of obligations will help you recharge. One great way to reset the system is by doing something that gets your body moving and your blood pumping! Getting fresh air and exercise has monumental effects on the quality of our mind and our mood.
Another great way to give the mind a break is to set aside time for play! Something that’s free from restriction or structure, let yourself color out of the lines and lean into the flow of your own creativity!
It is all too easy for us to skip out on self-care, but we truly cannot perform at peak capacity if we haven’t made the time to relax and recharge. In doing so you get to start the new year off with lots of energy and enthusiasm!
Let Go of the Past
When moving into a new year, it is very important that we do not continue to carry any unwanted or unclaimed baggage with us.
One way to be sure of this is by reflecting on the things throughout your year that didn’t go as planned. While this may sound less-than-enjoyable, what we are doing here is creating the opportunity to let go of any residual feelings of guilt or regret.
The past is in the past, by leaving behind these negative and inhibiting thoughts, we are able to truly open ourselves up to a new year of endless possibility.
Focus on the lessons you’ve learned and how you can use those lessons in the future — incorporating the wisdom you’ve obtained from the year prior so that you do not get caught up in dead-ends or restrictive cycles.
Focus on the Future
Visualize what you want to achieve in the new year. Think about the goals you want to set, the habits you want to create, and the person you want to become. The way we see ourselves sets the tone for how we present ourselves– streaming into all facets of life. I discuss this concept in more detail in this article.
With this, you get to start BEing the person you want to see show up in 2023.
Reach Out to Loved Ones
Reach out to friends and family. Connect with the people you care about and celebrate the upcoming year with them. Showing appreciation and gratitude for those around you can go a long way. Especially when your Circle of Influence is made up of like-minded people who in turn uplift and support you in your goals and aspirations.
Get Excited (About the Year to Come)
Get excited about what the new year has to offer. Excitement in and of itself is one of the most powerful agents of motivation and change. I like to map out a vision for the year to come so that you stay inspired and accountable to your goals.
Allow yourself to dream big and get ready to take on the world!
Conclusion
By taking care of yourself and focusing on what matters most, you can end the year feeling energized and ready to take on the new year with power and vision.
Looking for more guidance on surviving the holiday season and inviting more joy and gratitude into your life? Check out “Home for the Holidays”, an article full of wisdom, insight, and tips for you to take with you on your holiday journeys wherever they may lead you!
And when you’re ready to accelerate your vision, goals, and action plan for 2023– sign up for “Vision 2023 – Creating Lasting Change”! This is the perfect opportunity to kick-start your year and set the foundation for progress and success as you stride into 2023! I’ll see you there.
Wishing you an amazing end of the year and an even better start to the next!