Wouldn’t it be nice to relax around the end of December? You could rest. Maybe even sleep in! Catch up on books and movies. Hang out with friends. Be completely present when you’re spending time with your family.
You deserve that kind of break at the end of a busy year. You deserve to give your brain a break and fully focus on your personal life and things that fuel you. It would be a shame to let stress and an unfinished to-do list nag at your mind and pull you out of the moment. Wouldn’t you rather know that everything’s handled and you can actually let yourself enjoy this time?
Right now we’re looking ahead to the last few weeks before the end-of-year ramp-up really begins. There are a few really impactful things you can do right now to set yourself up for a restful end-of-year break, and a successful new year.
First: Take Some Time to Close Out This Year.
You want to move into a new year looking forward. You want to be focused on the opportunities and possibilities open to you and energized to tackle them. It’s hard to do that when you’re distracted by loose ends and the lingering stress of all the things you didn’t get done in the year before.
These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself as you work on closing out this year.
- What went well this year? Reflect on the high points and proudest accomplishments from your past year. Notice the people and systems that were vital in helping you make those achievements. Acknowledge your strengths and the work that helped you get hard things done this year. Notice the little things that got done too. Think about how you’re going to bring all of those skills and supports with you into next year.
- What do you want to accomplish between now and December 31? With limited time left in your year, get really clear about what you want to prioritize. December time management gets challenging, and time can get away from you. Think about what your future self will want you to have gotten done by New Year’s Day.
- Is there anything you need to let go of before the year ends? If you’re still holding out hope that you’ll find time for that side project, or to learn a new language this year, give yourself permission to let those goals go. If they still feel important in January, you can always try tackling them as 2026 goals.
Second: Start to Percolate Goals For The New Year.
Don’t get bogged down thinking about practicalities just yet. You’ll have time to narrow your goals later on and think about how you’re actually going to achieve them.
But first? Let yourself daydream. Take a walk, or take yourself out for a coffee, and think about your answer to this simple question:
How good could it get for me next year?
Open up your thinking in an unrestricted way. Quiet the voice that says “that’s too risky” or “you could never do that” and just let yourself imagine the possibilities.
Imagine…
- The dream clients you could land.
- What you could do by expanding your team or expanding your services.
- The impact you could make in your community and how you could use your skills to make things better for others.
Let your mind wander as you think about what “the best year yet” would look like for your business and your life. Only then can you make a clear plan for what you want to commit taking on next year.
Third: Prepare Your Time Management Strategies For a Really Productive New Year.
Practicing good time management keeps you working productively so you can get the most important things done every day. That, in turn, lets you create momentum that keeps you engaged with your work and feeling in control of your time and your life. You’re able to end work each day knowing that things are handled.
You just can’t implement your vision of a successful new year without good time management.
Here’s a simple overview of the process for troubleshooting your time management strategies at the end of the year:
- Review your time management tools and systems. How did you plan out your time this year? How well did you manage distractions? What strategies did you use to keep yourself working productively?
- Recommit to the tools and systems that are working for you. If tracking your daily schedule on a paper calendar worked well for you this year, great! Start shopping for a 2026 calendar you love so you can maintain that habit. If you found that system or application that really made a difference in keeping you on track, recommit to using it.
- Notice the places where you struggled with time management and productivity this year. What support do you need to resolve those deficits?
Looking for Support as You Set the Stage for a Successful 2026?
While the end of the year is always busy, it’s also a time of great opportunity. Making a few simple adjustments to your time management systems right now could completely change your course for next year. You’ll get to end your days feeling at peace with what you’ve accomplished. Enjoy your personal time without guilt about what’s still unfinished at work.
If you could use some support figuring out what you need to get done before the end of the year, or how to set yourself up for a successful 2026, let’s talk. Request a no-cost Strategy Session so we can talk about what’s possible for you and what the next best steps are.
And lawyers, this one’s for you! Join me on December 10th for a free one-hour panel discussion called Beyond the Briefs – Mastering the Business of Law. I’ll be joined by two other experts who specialize in coaching and supporting lawyers, where we will address the unique challenges of the law industry. In this session, you’ll learn how to better manage your time and energy, attract and retain clients, and build a practice that supports your long-term success. Save your spot in this live, virtual (and free!) panel discussion by clicking here.
Be well,
Sarah
- Connecting Joy and Productivity in the New Year - December 13, 2025
- Three Things to Do Now to Set Yourself up for Success for 2026 - November 19, 2025
- Overwhelmed? Here’s How to Stay Productive Between Now and Thanksgiving - October 22, 2025
