Four Things You’ll Want to do Now Before the New Year Arrives


Reader

While this is the time of preparing for and attending holiday celebrations and finishing up work, I encourage you to carve out some time to appreciate this past year and prep for the next.

The turning of the calendar lends itself to pausing and preparing. It’s not only a time to celebrate the holidays, but also to celebrate who we are and where we’re going.

These four strategic and specific actions, done before the end of the year, can set you up for a successful and fulfilling new year:

  1. Reflect on the Past Year - Take a moment to review your accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned - both personally and professionally. Use journaling, photos, or visual representations to aid the process. Celebrate your progress and identify areas for improvement.
  2. Plan for the New Year - Set goals and intentions. Consider choosing a "word of the year" to provide flexibility with direction. Ensure your plans and actions are aligned with your aspirations. (I wrote you last week about the word of the year idea and you can listen in for guidance in episode 239.)
  3. Review Your Finances - Check remaining balances in healthcare and business accounts that may have a "use it or lose it" policy. Assess your budget, outstanding invoices, and unused subscriptions. Be honest about your financial situation to avoid leaving money on the table and go into the new year with a clear picture of your budget.
  4. Declutter Your Space - Clear out physical and digital clutter to create space for the new year. Donate, discard, and organize items you no longer need or use. You are not only removing what no longer fits, you're making space for what you want! (For more support, check out the Decluttering Playlist on the PositivelyProductive.com PODCAST page.)

By taking these four steps before the new year begins, you'll be setting yourself up for more success and much less stress. If you’d like to listen in and hear more details about these four steps, be sure to check out episode 240 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast.

Please remember, I'm here to help and to cheer you on. If you have questions or want to share your wins, you can reply to this email or message me on social media. I’d love to hear from you!

Here's to an amazing holiday season and to feeling ready and encouraged for what’s to come,

Lisa


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Positively_Lisa

I’m Lisa Zawrotny, a Productivity Coach, host of the Positively Living® Podcast, and founder of Positively Productive Systems, on a mission to redefine productivity with compassion. I help overwhelmed clients ditch hustle culture and design shame-free, personalized systems that lead to sustainable success—without burnout or sacrificing what they love. I believe productivity is meant to support a more satisfying, joy-filled life. For me, that means road-tripping with my husband and teens, making music with my family and friends, and inspiring others with my voice. One of my favorite ways to recharge is curling up with a book, an iced coffee, and a cat on my lap. ------------------------------------------- Check out the resources I offer below and request my Toolkit to reduce overwhelm, boost energy, and align your actions with your values!

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