Are you ready to say goodbye to overwhelm and a disorganized life with a personalized list of things to do before the end of the year?
Don’t worry, goal friends, we’ve got you covered! As the end of the year approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of things left to do.
Whether it’s work deadlines, personal goals, or holiday planning, the pressure can build up fast, leaving us stressed and scattered.
But what if there was a way to manage it all without losing your sense of well-being and peace? Enter the simple power of a checklist.
By organizing your tasks in a structured, mindful way, you can take control of your health, wellness, and overall well-being.
A year-end checklist not only keeps you on track but also ensures you’re prioritizing self-care and organization, giving you space to breathe and stay balanced
Let’s explore how you, too, can end the year off strong and stress free!
What to accomplish before the year ends?
The best way to approach accomplishing certain goals before the year ends is to revisit the annual goals you set for the year.
What progress have you made towards them?
Reflecting on previous goals is an exercise that will help you prioritize goal setting for the new year.
If there aren’t any goals that you can realistically accomplish within the last quarter, put some effort towards them instead.
Think about categorizing areas of your life and select the ones you’ve neglected the most.
The end of the year is the best time to review your finances or reevaluate the relationships in your life.
Maybe it’s your physical health or mental well-being that you let fall to the wayside. School, work, and running a household often take precedence over self-care for many women.
Use the end of the year as an opportunity to invest in yourself. You can make it your goal to eat healthy and workout every day the last quarter of the year.
Or limit spending during the holidays to manage your finances better in the new year. What you accomplish before the year ends is completely up to you.
However, don’t use the last few months of the year as an excuse to give up or be lazy.
Yes, we know, the end of the year is supposed to be a fun time for many. With back-to-back holiday celebrations, travel, and family gatherings, there’s so much to get into, but you also need to be responsible.
So, if you’re hibernating or burned out from the year, check out a list of seven simple things to do before the end of the year to make sure you remain centered and balanced.
Walk into the new year with a new pep in your step by nurturing your body, mind, spirit, and soul.
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Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Deep Clean Your Home
Okay, let’s be honest, cleaning may be therapeutic for some, but many of us don’t enjoy the experience.
Just thinking about cleaning tasks makes me overwhelmed, and I’m sure others can relate.
If you haven’t done a thorough cleaning of your home since spring break or 2010, it’s the best time of the year to do so. Right before holiday festivities are a valid reason to deep clean, room by room.
Who wants to have company over Thanksgiving and NYE parties with a house full of clutter? Before you think about putting your Christmas decor out, create a cleaning schedule to deep clean for at least a week.
All members of the household should be involved. And don’t forget to clean out your car, extra storage room, and garage as well.
Cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen shouldn’t be much of a lift. With a few extra hands on deck, you can focus on organizing your drawers, closets, home office, or any other shared living spaces.
Purchase storage systems and stackable cubes that won’t take up too much room.
Give your closet a makeover by purging clothing items, accessories, and shoes that you no longer reach for. Pack away spring and summer clothing until the winter weather breaks.
Use a large bin to donate any old household items, clothes, shoes, or unused accessories to Goodwill.
See, goal friends, easy peasy!
Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Schedule Annual Appointments
Put your health first in the new year.
The best dentists and physicians get booked pretty fast, so stay ahead of the game and avoid waitlists.
In the last quarter of the year, take a day to schedule out annual doctor and dentist visits for you and your family.
Make sure your updated insurance information is on file and schedule appointments for any follow-up visits that were missed.
Your primary care doctor or the family physician is only the first step. Don’t forget to go for an eye checkup and see any specialists in health issues you have been experiencing.
Dentist appointments can be nerve-wrecking and a little scary, but don’t keep putting off the dental work you need done. Save up the money for any procedures or cosmetic work so you can start fresh in the new year.
Hair appointments are just as important. I know I’m not the only one with hair goals. Set aside a day each week for some hair therapy, even if you go to the salon every two weeks.
Neglecting what’s on your head will only lead to hair fall or a haircut that you don’t want. Budget for your hair appointments next year.
Whether you have processed, natural, or color treated hair, it all requires daily up-keep and proper maintenance.
If you’re a fan of protective styles or require trims every two weeks, pull out the calendar and snag your spot now.
Your appearance affects your confidence and how you feel when you show up in the world. So, book those vacations and hair appointments, too!
Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Set New Goals
This is the time of the year to research which paper or digital planners that you’ll use for next year before they are all sold out (iykyk!).
Vision board party invites will start rolling in soon, so start brainstorming your goals for the new year now.
What were your achievements for the year? What goals do you need to revisit or completely throw away?
A lot can happen over twelve months. Our circumstances change, the unexpected happens, and we can either get the furthest that we’ve ever been or hit rock bottom.
While goals can’t predict future outcomes, they serve as a guide to keep you on track with your purpose.
Setting goals will help you reach your dreams overtime, but ultimately provide you with a road map for direction.
Think about the future professional and personal goals you’d like to achieve and write them down on paper, then create a vision board to visualize them.
Another beneficial activity is creating digital to-do lists through apps like Notion. This will keep your goals organized with action steps you can take each quarter.
Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Organize Digital Storage
Walk into the new year with a clean slate on every device you own.
It’s not like you haven’t been ignoring that ‘full storage’ message for months now. Set aside some time to do something about it.
Get organized and clean out your spam and junk mail. Update your contact information on important sites.
Free up space by transferring photos and videos onto another computer or an external hard drive.
Delete any digital apps you don’t use often and don’t forget to organize and clear off your desktop. Keep it limited to ten icons or folders. Anything more than that is an eyesore.
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Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – In Depth Budget Review
If you don’t already have a budget, create one for the new year.
We accumulate so many subscriptions and memberships over the year that it’s hard to keep track of what we’re paying for.
Make sure you add these to your budget sheet and determine which ones are worth keeping or canceling altogether.
Review what bills you can get cheaper plans for, such as your phone, internet or cable bill.
Look at your savings accounts and emergency funds. Think about transferring any excess money into a high yield savings account to watch your money grow even more.
Most importantly, invest in ETF and index funds. It’s never too early to plan for your retirement. Set aside extra money for your 401k and Roth IRA, too.
Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Self Care
Don’t leave the year behind without dedicating time to take care of yourself. Stop pushing those self care days back and book a full package at your favorite spa.
Borrow from your saving funds if you need to. You owe it to yourself to relax.
Remember, self care should be non-negotiable in your routine.
Try not to view it as a reward, but an important item to scratch off of your daily self care checklist.
Meal planning, exercising, limiting screen time, and starving your distractions are all forms of self care to practice throughout the year.
Before the new year begins, set and reinforce personal boundaries; write a love letter to yourself; and dedicate a few hours to a passion project every week.
Things To Do Before The End Of The Year – Relationship Audit
Our relationships and connections with people make the world go around. Friendship audits are beneficial when they are done with the right intent.
People that perpetuate toxicity in their friendships and relationships often use friendship audits as an excuse to cut people off. Don’t let this be you.
A healthy friendship audit thoroughly assesses your social circle and the value that each individual adds to your life and vice versa.
Sometimes, a friendship or relationship turns sour or simply runs its course when both parties grow apart.
Evaluate your romantic partnerships and friendships quarterly or annually.
Try writing all the names of people who mean the most to you in life and describe your connection with each of them.
Do you talk to them often? Do you all possess similar qualities, interests, or values? Is your support for one another reciprocated? How do they make you feel?
Take a step back to reflect on your significant other or friends to make sure you’re in alignment with each other’s future.
Some relationships don’t last forever and that’s okay. Drop the dead weight by year-end.
Leave that toxic relationship in the past or finally commit to a new one. Demote friends to associates, if they no longer fill your cup.
Normalize compartmentalizing your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. Not everyone will have the privilege of getting to know you on a deeper level.
Some people are associates, work buddies, best friends, or life partners. It’s ultimately up to you to decide. Distance yourself from people who dim your light, and embrace those who light the fire in your life.
You deserve to be loved and supported the same way you show up for others. If you’re surrounded by people who inhibit your personal growth, it’s time to move on.
What to do in the last week of the year?
- Create a music playlist with all of your favorite songs of the year
- Create a TBR jar for all the books you’d like to read
- Spend quality time with family or your significant other
- Celebrate your accomplishments
- Put holiday decorations in storage
- Make a vision board
- Volunteer
- Go on a girl’s trip
- Have a cozy movie night in
- Do some cooking or baking therapy
- Pick a creative hobby day
- Host a “year in review,” party
Are you ready to enter the new year with a renewed sense of purpose and well-being?
Close out the year by checking off your curated list of things to do before the end of the year for a better you.
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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