7 Things to Do Before the Year Ends
The new year is approaching, and people worldwide are getting ready to set some goals and make some changes.
But oftentimes, these goals fall short because people don’t have a solid foundation for their goals. They may also lack a plan of action to get them to their goals which means no discipline and clarity.
This new, fresh energy is here to clear out everything that wasn’t working and invite in what will. It’s about getting clear enough on your intentions to create a plan on how to get there.
The tips I’m giving you may not seem like a lot, but these simple tasks and exercises will make a world of difference in the long run, trust me. It never seems like you’re doing much at the moment, but it’s the small choices and shifts that will change your life the most.
So this whole cloudy, vague uncertainty around goal setting stops HERE.
You will crush your goals and reach far beyond the potential you *think* can reach.
This time you’re setting up your foundation strong so that your goals have no choice but to flourish.
Here are 7 things to do before the year ends (personal development edition):
1. Clean your space
Your environment reflects your mind. Cluttered, disorganized spaces could mean that you have a cluttered mind. This is the perfect time to go through all of the drawers you haven’t gone through in months, throw away old bottles from your bathroom, trash expired foods, and donate/sell clothes you no longer wear. A fresh start in your living space can do wonders for your mental health and put you in a ready state of mind for the new year.
2. Digital clean up
You know all those folders and documents you have on your desktop? What about those apps on your phone you never use but are taking up space? And those emails you’ve been meaning to unsubscribe to? It’s time to clean it up! I’m guilty of it too. It’s something you don’t think about every day, but it starts to build up, and now you can’t even see what your desktop wallpaper is because there’s just too much there! We use our phones and computers almost every day, so it’s about time that we clear out and clean up our technology as well.
3. Shadow work sessions
If there is anything I’ve learned this year, it’s that your mindset is everything. The way you think about life, your beliefs about your self-worth, money, relationships, etc., are the basis of how your life will play out. It’s impossible to desire something but at the same time believe it’s not possible for you. Those are contradictory beliefs. And the best way to uncover these beliefs that have been holding you back is to dig deeper into shadow work.
Shadow work can be daunting because you might not want to look at what’s hiding in your subconscious mind. You might not want to face that side of you. But pushing it down or not thinking about it isn’t going to make it go away. It’s when you face it head-on, deal with it, let it go, and show compassion for yourself that real healing happens.
A Beginner’s Guide to Shadow Work: Healing the Shadow Self
4. Vision board/create a vision
The way to stay motivated to achieve your goals is to have a vision. Without a vision, you can begin to lose sight of why you started in the first place. Everyone’s vision is different, and we seldom do things for the same reason. So a great exercise is to create a vision board. You can do this on Pinterest or canvas and make it your desktop or phone wallpaper. Or you can make a physical one by cutting out images and words that describe what you want to achieve and why!
5. Intentions for the new year
This is where you’ll start getting into the nitty-gritty of what you want and why you want it. Goals without vision or reason are hard to keep, so make a list of everything you want to accomplish this year and why you want it. It brings more depth to your desires besides just wanting them.
6. Achievement list
While working on yourself, it’s hard to see how much you’ve accomplished - especially when you’re feeling low. Take some time to make a list of everything you’ve accomplished this year. This includes everything - from creating a new, healthy habit like waking up early to launching your website. Everything counts because you did that. You’ve accomplished so much, and it’s about time you celebrate everything you’ve done and who you’ve become along the way.
Why Cultivating Self-Worth Needs to Be Your Top Priority
7. Thank you letter to 2021
This is the perfect way to tie in gratitude before the new year. Maybe this year was the best year of your life; perhaps it could’ve been better. Either way, there is something to be grateful for. Even if this year wasn’t the best for you, I know that it taught you something about yourself. And that isn’t something that should go unnoticed. Every year, every day, every second, you are changing - you are not the same person you were in the past. And that is the process of growth. Thank 2021 for everything it has taught you and blessed you with.
This is not a comprehensive list of things to do before the year is over, but it covers the basics. Setting and achieving your goals is all about your mindset, and these are 7 things that you can do that will shift you into the mindset of a goal crusher.
Let 2022 be even better than 2021. Let yourself find versions of yourself you didn’t even know existed. I hope that you get everything you want!