And just like that, 2022 is headed toward the finish line. As we navigate the fourth quarter of the year, there are a few things that we can do to finish strong, enjoy the holiday season, and set ourselves up for a great 2023.
Prep Early
The key to giving yourself space to enjoy the holiday season is to prepare. Rather than scrambling at the last minute to come up with the perfect Thanksgiving meal or checking off every item on your Christmas shopping list, begin now. Start to get ready. Do a little each day. Organize your plans on paper. Enlist help. When the holidays do arrive, you’ll be ready and calm and able to enjoy every moment.Declutter
This is a great time of year to declutter your home, your computer files, and your financial records. When the new year arrives, you’ll likely turn your attention to taxes and getting back to work, so before you take a delightful rest at the end of the year, clean house. Your future self will be so grateful.Reflect
Now that the year is winding down, take a moment to assess how you’ve done. Are you doing what you aimed to do at the beginning of the year? Are you maintaining the habits that you hoped to maintain? Are you on track to accomplish the goals that you set for yourself?On paper, write out the major areas of your life—family, career, spirituality, fitness, and so forth— and define how you would like those to be going. The countdown to midnight on Dec. 31 isn’t the time to begin setting your intentions for the year to come. That time is now. Start thinking about it, enjoy the buffer time that you have during this last quarter of the year, and set yourself up for an even better year next year.
