3 Simple Steps to End the Year Strong: How to Feel Accomplished and Graceful

I can’t believe that it is already the last month of 2024. I feel like it was just yesterday when we were sending out “Happy New Year” text messages. The end of the year is always a time of reflection. We reflect on the highs and the lows. Sometimes for me, it’s easy to think about all the things I said I would do but never got around to doing. That thought alone can make me uneasy and discouraged at the end of the year. I think our brain has a way of making the unmet goals seem so big that we overlook all the wonderful things we did achieve. We need to be careful not to end the year in a state of regret, but a posture of gratitude. Life alone is enough to be thankful for. No matter what your year looked like, I want to encourage you to do everything in your power to end it on a positive note and set the stage for success in 2025.

In this post, I’ll be sharing some things I’m doing end the year strong and enter 2025 feeling accomplished and ready for what’s next.

Reflect on Your Wins—Big and Small

Often times we focus too much on the negative and completely overlook all the positive that has happened over the year. I promise you that surely in 365 days you had at least one win! Celebrate it. We have to train our mind to focus on the achievements. The mind is actually an area that the enemy like to use to tear us down. It is the battlefield. He wants us to feel regret, shame, and disappointment. No matter how many wins you achieved this year, he’s going to push you to focus on that one thing that you didn’t achieve. Don’t give him that satisfaction. Ask God to bring to remembrance all the beautiful things that happened in your life in 2024.

Remember that it’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. By looking back on your wins, you can see how far you’ve come and identify patterns or habits that contributed to your growth. Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Set Aside Quiet Time: You know how I feel about planning. It’s not enough to just casually reflect on the year. Block out intentional time during the last two weeks of the year where you can sit and reflect with no distractions. The end of the year can get busy with holiday events, family gatherings and all the things; so if you don’t block this time out you may struggle to find it.
2. Write Down Your Wins: List three to five things you’re proud of this year. What went really well? What growth did you see in yourself? These wins can be personal, professional, or even small daily victories. No matter how small it may seem it deserves acknowledgement. Remember that it is those small consistent wins that ultimately make the difference. Don’t overlook them.
3. Acknowledge Areas of Improvement: It is important to reflect on obstacles and challenges you faced; but make sure you do it from a place of wanting to learn and improve–not regret. Notice any patterns that may have contributed to these challenges and ask God for the wisdom, strength, and guidance to overcome them in the upcoming year.
4. Express Gratitude: Ultimately, through the highs and the lows the only thing constant is the kindness of God. Spend some time thanking him and ask him for direction and guidance as you step into the new year.

Keep Track of Your Wins

If you are like me and tend to overlook the small wins, one thing I want to do for 2025 is keep some kind of wins journal. I don’t know yet if I will write in it weekly or do more of a monthly recap but I do want to start writing down my wins so that my end of the year reflection is more effective. Even if I just write one win a month, that will be 12 wins that I’ll be able to look back on and be proud of at the end of 2025.

Declutter a Space for a Fresh Start

There is something about decluttering that resets my mind and gives me a sense of calm. I believe that the way your space looks does correlate to your mood and energy levels. Have you ever watched those shows where people live in just complete mess and someone comes in the declutter? More often than not, once you begin to hear their story you see the similarities between the state of their life and the state of their home. Clutter leads to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. If your physical space feels chaotic that usually is a good indicate of your emotional state. You don’t want to start off the year like that.

You don’t need to tackle your entire home, in fact, I would suggest that you don’t tackle your entire home. Especially if you are not use to decluttering taking on a huge task like that is the quickest way to get overwhelmed at the end of the year. Start with smaller, more manageable spaces. Here are a few areas to consider:

• A Single Drawer or Cabinet: Choose a small, contained space like your desk drawer or bathroom cabinet. Empty it out, sort through the items, and only keep what’s essential or brings you joy. We have a drawer in our kitchen where we just throw everything that doesn’t have a space, or even really a purpose. A few days ago I cleaned out that drawer and the sense of accomplishment I felt afterwards was incredible. I might do one or two more spaces in our home before the end of the year but the goal is to keep it small.
• Your Digital Space: Decluttering isn’t limited to physical items. Take some time to clean up your digital world. Delete unused apps, organize your email inbox, and create folders for important files. Get as organized as you can without feeling overwhelmed. One tip is to set a timer. Cleaning out a digital space can often feel never ending. It’s not always as tangible as a physical space. So set a time for 15 to 30 minutes and do what you can within that timeframe. If you do a little bit a day your digital spaces will be more organized than when you started.
• A Frequently Used Space: Areas that you should try and clean are high usage areas like your kitchen counter or bedside table. Focus on an area that you use daily. Keeping these spaces clear and organized can have an immediate positive impact on your daily life.

Plan Small, Realistic Goals for the New Year

As the new year approaches, many of us feel the pressure to set ambitious resolutions. While big goals can be inspiring, they’re often overwhelming and difficult to sustain. Instead, focus on small, realistic goals that align with your values and priorities. Small goals are more achievable and less intimidating than large ones. And remember that large goals are just a combination of smaller goals. Instead of saying “My goal is to write a book” a more realistic and achievable goal is “My goals is to write for 30 minutes every day”. As long as you are consistent with this small goal you will notice that a few months from now you would’ve written the book! Small goals often lead to big results over time. Remember that goals should be SMART:

1. Be Specific: Vague goals like “get healthier” or “be more productive” are hard to measure. Instead, set specific goals like “eat one serving of vegetables with every meal” or “write for 10 minutes every morning.”
2. Make Them Measurable: Choose goals that you can track and evaluate. For example, “read one book per month” or “save $50 per week.”
3. Break Them Down: Divide larger goals into smaller, actionable steps. For instance, if your goal is to declutter your home, start with one room at a time. Your goals should be achievable.
4. Align it with Your Purpose: I believe that everything that we do should tie into an overarching vision or purpose. Even if the goal that you set is achievable you need to ask yourself: “Does this get me to my overall goal for this year”.
5. Set a Time Frame: Give yourself a deadline or timeline to stay focused and accountable.

Remember when you set goals you should avoid setting goals that depend on external factors. The only thing you can control are your actions.

Create a Vision for the Year

In addition to setting specific goals, consider creating a vision for your year. What do you want your life to look and feel like in the next 12 months? Write down a few sentences describing your ideal year, and use this vision to guide your decisions and priorities.

Ending the year strong doesn’t require grand gestures or massive changes. It’s about taking small, intentional steps that help you feel more grounded, accomplished, and prepared for what’s ahead. As you put these steps into practice, remember to be kind to yourself. Progress is more important than perfection, and every small effort you make contributes to your growth. Take pride in how far you’ve come, and look forward to all the possibilities the new year holds.