Closing The Year With Intention: Resting and Reflection

Introduction: The End of the Year is a Time for Reflection, Not Hustle

As the year draws to a close, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of the holiday season. With parties, gift-giving, family obligations, and end-of-year work pressures, we often find ourselves running on empty. But what if we took a different approach this year? What if, instead of getting swept up in the hustle, we spent the last few weeks of 2024 reflecting on our growth, practicing self-care, and setting ourselves up for a joy-filled 2025?

The end of the year doesn’t have to be a chaotic race to the finish line. In fact, it can be a time to slow down, breathe, and close the year with intention—honoring our accomplishments, letting go of stress, and preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually for the year ahead.

This doesn’t mean you should ignore the excitement of the holidays or brush aside the fun. You deserve to enjoy the magic of the season, but taking time to reflect on the past year can help you enter 2025 with purpose and clarity. It can help you prepare mentally and emotionally to manifest the life you desire. You don’t need to wait for January 1st to begin this process. Starting now will ensure that you’re already grounded and aligned for the year ahead.

Reflecting on Your Wins: Celebrate Your Growth

Before diving into the madness of the holiday season, take a moment to reflect on the year you’ve just had. Think about the ways you’ve grown, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the victories—big or small—that you’ve experienced. Often, we rush past these milestones, but celebrating them is a key part of preparing for the future.

“Never wait for the perfect moment, Always take the moment and make it perfect.” — Toni Jarvis Fadollone

Take out a journal or just sit quietly and ask yourself:

• What have I learned this year?
• What moments made me feel proud or fulfilled?
• How have I grown emotionally, spiritually, or mentally?
• What relationships have deepened, and which ones have taught me something important?

Reflecting on your wins not only fills you with gratitude but it also creates a foundation for manifesting your desires in the coming year. You can’t move forward until you acknowledge and appreciate how far you’ve come.

A simple exercise: Take a few moments to reflect on the milestones you’ve achieved this year, no matter how small they may seem. Write them down. Acknowledge them. Then, give yourself credit. You are the one who showed up and worked hard to make them happen.

One of the easiest ways to kick off the reflection process is by writing down everything you feel proud of. This can be an ongoing practice to help you visualize the positive impact you've made in your own life and those around you. Reflecting on your wins, even in the busiest of times, is like a self-love boost that gets you in alignment for the future.

Prioritize Self-Care: Find Space for Rest and Rejuvenation

As we approach the final weeks of 2024, self-care often gets pushed aside in favor of to-do lists and obligations. But if you want to close out the year with intention, you need to prioritize yourself. Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and skincare routines (though those are great!); it’s about nourishing your mind, body, and spirit.

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia

Here’s how to take care of yourself, especially as the year winds down:

1. Rest: Give yourself permission to sleep in, take naps, and slow down. Your body needs time to recharge, especially before the demands of a new year.
2. Nutrition: You don’t have to wait for the new year to start eating better. Prioritize nourishing, wholesome foods that support your energy and mental clarity.
3. Mental Clarity: Take time each day to sit in quiet reflection, meditate, or practice mindfulness. This will help clear away the mental clutter and make space for the good things coming your way.

When you prioritize self-care, you’re not just preparing yourself for the next year—you’re making sure that you have the energy and strength to tackle whatever comes your way.

Play: An Essential Aspect to Care and Reflection

Play helps reset our energy and reminds us to embrace joy and creativity.

Here are a few playful activities your readers can add to their month to relax, reflect, and let go:

Playful Ways to Relax, Reflect, and Let Go

1. Dance Party for One
   • Put on your favorite music and have a solo dance party in your living room. No judgment, just pure fun! It’s a great way to let go of stress and allow your body to move freely, releasing any tension. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to feel more present and uplifted.
2. Create a Vision Board
   • Instead of taking a serious, goal-focused approach, make a playful vision board! Cut out pictures from magazines or print images from the internet that represent the energy you want to bring into 2024. Let your imagination run wild and don’t worry about perfection—this is about fun and creativity.
3. Take a Playful Nature Walk
   • Go for a walk and playfully observe the world around you. Whether it's skipping instead of walking or talking to the animals you see along the way, inject some playfulness into your time outside. Take a deep breath and truly connect with the sights, sounds, and smells around you.
4. Set a Silly Challenge
   • Challenge yourself to do something out of your usual routine—make it playful and silly! Perhaps try a new activity, like learning a funny dance routine on TikTok, or making up your own yoga poses. Allow yourself to feel silly and let go of the need for perfection.
5. Journaling with a Twist
   • Instead of traditional journaling, why not turn it into a playful experience? Write a letter to your future self as if you’re writing a letter to a friend. Use humor, imagination, and a light tone to let your creativity flow. You might even draw or doodle in the margins!
6. Play a Childhood Game
   • Revisit a game you used to love as a kid—whether it’s a board game, jumping rope, or hopscotch. Engaging in a childhood activity is a wonderful way to reconnect with your sense of wonder and ease.
7. Create a "Let Go" Ritual
   • Set aside time to playfully release any worries or stress. Write down what you want to let go of (whether it’s work-related stress or any emotional baggage) on pieces of paper. Then, safely burn or rip them up and watch them disappear. It’s a fun and symbolic way to lighten your load.
8. Host a Virtual “Laughing Club”
   • Organize a virtual laughing session with friends or family. Laughter is an instant mood booster, and it’s even more fun when you share it with others. Try to see who can laugh the hardest (even if it’s a little fake at first), and watch as it turns into genuine laughter. It’s playful, silly, and absolutely free!
9. Play with Your Pets (or Plant a New Plant!)
   • If you have pets, spend time playing with them—throw a ball, chase them around, or even teach them a new trick. If you’re not a pet owner, perhaps consider planting a new plant. It’s a simple, joyful activity that reconnects you to the earth and the beauty of nurturing something.
10. Use Your Imagination
    • Let yourself imagine the most magical version of the upcoming year. What if everything you dreamed of came true? Imagine how you would feel, where you would be, and who you would be with. Don’t hold back—let your imagination run wild. This playful exercise can help you feel inspired while also embracing the playful, light-hearted side of manifesting your desires.

Avoiding the Holiday Hustle: Don’t Let Pressure Steal Your Joy

The holiday season often brings with it a heavy sense of obligation. From buying gifts to attending every event, there’s this unspoken pressure to do more and be more. But the truth is, you don’t have to be everywhere or do everything. You have permission to step back and honor your own pace.

“We don’t have to do all of it; we have to do what feels aligned with who we are.” — Toni Jarvis Fadollone

As you enter this holiday season, let go of the idea that you need to meet every expectation placed on you. Not everyone has to be in your circle for every single holiday event. Instead, consider being mindful of where you give your time and energy.

What can you skip this year? What can you give yourself permission to say “no” to, without guilt?

Taking this approach means less stress and more time for joy. This holiday season, commit to doing only what feels right for you. You’ll find that when you take the pressure off, the true magic of the season reveals itself.

Preparing for the New Year: Write It Down and Get Clear

While many people wait until January 1st to think about their goals and resolutions, now is the time to get clear about what you want to manifest in 2024. Don’t wait for the new year to start thinking about your future. Start today.

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Here’s a simple exercise to prepare for the new year:

1. Write Down Your Desires: What do you want to manifest in the next year? What are your big dreams and goals? Get it all out on paper—clarity starts with writing it down.
2. Visualize Your Year: Spend time imagining what your life looks like in 2024. What would bring you joy? Where do you want to be? What would you like to have accomplished?
3. Break It Down into Actionable Steps: Once you have a clear vision, break your dreams into smaller, actionable steps. When you set small, achievable goals, you can gradually work your way toward your larger vision.

By starting now, you’re not only entering the new year with a sense of purpose—you’re laying the groundwork for a powerful year ahead.

A Short Story of Self-Reflection

Here’s a simple story about the power of reflecting on your growth, and the importance of taking time for yourself before you start the new year:

Once, there was a young woman named Lily who lived in a busy town. Lily spent most of her days helping others, attending to the needs of her family, and always putting others before herself. One day, as the year drew to a close, Lily decided to take some time to reflect. She found a quiet space by the window, with a warm blanket and a cup of tea, and she closed her eyes.

She thought about all the days of the year that had passed. She remembered the laughter, the challenges, the victories, and even the losses. She wrote down everything she was grateful for. The small moments and the big achievements. The people who had touched her life and the lessons she had learned. As Lily reflected, she realized how far she had come—and how much more she wanted to achieve in the next year. She set her intentions, let go of guilt, and promised to honor her needs in 2024.

The more Lily reflected, the more she realized the importance of nurturing herself. By honoring her own journey, she was better equipped to show up for the people she loved. She ended her reflection with a deep breath and a simple promise: “I am enough, and I am ready for what’s next.” (Yes, simple, simple story but I want you to make it that easy. Put yourself in Lily's place and reflect!)

Let’s Close Out the Year with Intention

As you head into the final weeks of 2024, take a moment to pause and prepare. Reflect on your growth, protect your peace with boundaries, and nourish yourself with care. Set your intentions for the coming year and get clear about what you want to manifest in 2024.

The best part? You can do all of this without the stress. Embrace this time as an opportunity to slow down, find joy, and cultivate the life you truly desire.

This week, I encourage you to reflect on what you truly want in 2024 and how you can start setting boundaries and taking action to manifest those desires. Write it down, visualize it, and let it fuel your journey into the new year.

You deserve to end the year feeling at peace, grounded, and full of joy, ready to enter 2024 with intention and clarity.

Conclusion

We will conclude with one of my favorite poems for reflection:

The Journey
by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Love ya,

Toni❤️

You've Got This