With only a month left until the end of the year, many can’t wait for it to be over and are starting to get ready for Christmas. But before the year is up, it is essential to take a step back and make a small list of things that you need to get done before the year ends, allowing you to enter the new one on a fresh and positive note, and without any of those nagging feelings of procrastination. Here are four key things that you should add to your to-do list before the year ends.
Photo by Olya Kobruseva
Tie up loose ends
Compile a list of things you need to get done for yourself before compiling your Christmas gift lists. Whether you need to finish an incomplete course, file some long outstanding taxes, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney about that accident you were in, pay a debt or outstanding bill, or make an appointment to the dentist to finally get that tooth looked at, make sure to deal with those loose ends before you start a new year. Try not to think of it as only a chore that you need to get done, but also as a wise investment of your time to use it, and your energy, for more fun and positive things in 2021. Any unfinished business will only haunt you and catch up with you in the future, so no matter how boring, tiresome, and time-consuming, deal with them now to take the weight off your shoulders and start the year afresh. Resolving conflicts and facing up to a decision that you have been putting off will also help you end the year feeling happier and more accomplished, especially after this exhausting year!
Let go of the negative
As the end of the year approaches, it is a great time to evaluate the past eleven months and sort out the good from the bad – including your relationships. Whether that’s co-workers, partners, family, or friends, if there are any relationships you aren’t happy in or aren’t serving you well, it is time to do something about it so that the toxicity doesn’t follow you into the new year. While it can seem harsh, the people who drain your happiness can sometimes be toxic, and these situations are unlikely to resolve themselves, if at all. Being assertive, recognising the red flags, and seeking help from a professional are all great strategies to help you separate from any toxic relationships that you may have in your life and make new room for healthy ones.
Set some time aside for self-care
Let’s face it – while everyone has good intentions to look after themselves and tries their best to schedule in a bit of self-care time throughout the year, it doesn’t always work out that way. With the year winding down, now is the perfect time to schedule in the ‘you’ time you didn’t get time for earlier this year, and it should be your number priority. By the end of the year, many people tend to be worn out and in need of a boost, especially after 2020. So if you don’t schedule in time for self-care, then you won’t get the other things on your list done very well. With the many pandemic restrictions currently around the world, that might not mean a full-on pamper day at the spa, but that’s not what real self-care is all about anyway. Figure out what self-care means to you and what makes you feel better – if that’s a bubble bath and a glass of wine, great! If it’s taking an hour or two out of your day to curl up with a favourite book or go for a run outside, that’s great too. The end of the year tends to be chaotic and rushed as everyone tries to cram in as much as possible – take some time out for yourself instead and you’ll enter the new year feeling much calmer and ready to take on new challenges.
Be grateful
As you look forward to the year ahead, it is also essential to take some time out to reflect on the things you are grateful for in the year that has just gone to put you in a more positive headspace to finish the year off. A year can seem like a long time, but it can also pass by quickly. A lot can happen, and sometimes you don’t have the time to acknowledge the good things and moments that have happened to you during the hecticness of everyday life. Many people practice gratitude daily via gratitude journals. Still, it is also lovely to take the end of the year to specifically look back and reflect, and take a few minutes in the morning or evening to write down a top ten list of things that you are the most grateful for, or until you can’t think of anything else.
markmunroe
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