Three Tips For Balance as You Close Out the Year

December 7, 2022

When you saw December 1 on your calendar, what thoughts came to mind?

Did you feel happy, stressed, motivated, or exhausted? Or - all of the above?

The close of the calendar year can be met with mixed emotions. On one hand, you might be excited to enjoy the holiday season and craft plans for the new year. On the other hand, you might feel anxiety and stress trying to wrap your head around to-do lists, holiday events, and getting things “right.”

The contrasting opinions on social media about how to approach the end of 2022 have been quite interesting. Two key schools of thought seem to be playing out:

Crowd one: “There's only one month left, so we should ‘live it up’ and maximize every day, striving for our best. Achieve big things so we won't have regrets.”

Crowd two: “We should not put pressure on ourselves to accomplish anything this month. The year has already been a LOT, and a real slow down without to-do lists is the best plan.”

While both of these approaches make sense, they both have potential drawbacks.

In crowd one, while there may be a sense of accomplishment or achievement (hello you Enneagram three’s), there may be a lack of balance and self-compassion. And if you move too fast, you might experience burnout and miss out on the simple and special moments. What if you start 2023 feeling exhausted and like you’re already going through the motions?

In crowd two, there may be an opportunity for rest and reflection, but potential regret. If you don’t set any intentions about how you want to spend your time, you might not have plans to look forward to or default to habits that aren’t ideal. Will you wake up on January 1 feeling a sense of regret?

As someone who identifies as a recovering perfectionist with a healthy dose of extrovert and introvert, I’ve learned that when I push myself too far in either direction, I don’t feel content. Choosing a balanced approach provides me with more energy, peace, and happy memories in the end.

In James Clear’s December 1 3-2-1 newsletter, he shared: "There is one month left in the year. Most people are ready to coast to the finish line, but one good month can make the whole year feel like a success. What can you do in the next 30 days to build momentum and finish the year on a high note?"

To be clear, I am interested in finishing the year on a high note, but in ways that matter to me. So this season I am choosing joy - and authentic joy in smaller doses.

If you’re interested in joining #teambalance, here are three ideas to try as you bring in the new year:

1 - If you haven’t already, craft your holiday bucket list. Jot down at least seven things that bring you the most joy this time of year. If you aren’t sure what to write down, think back to your happiest moments this time last year. Keep your list visible, and cross the events out along the way. The goal is to not tackle every item on your list, but to remind yourself of the things that matter the most to you. With so many distractions and shiny objects during the holiday season, it’s easy to get off course.

2 - Do a mental health check. As yourself - how am I really doing, and what do I need the most to feel at peace? Get specific, and identify what your mind, body, and heart need. For some people, this actually might mean quiet time on your own. For others, it could be scheduling plans with a friend who makes you laugh, booking a massage or therapy appointment, or carving out time for a favorite hobby. Try your best to ignore any external noise or “should’s” that may get in the way. If you are a parent and/or in a “helping” profession, this activity is really important.

3 - Schedule some fun. So often we get caught up in our plans and to-do lists that we forget one of the most important things: making time for play and FUN! After you draft your holiday bucket list and determine your most important needs, make sure that your plans involve fun. This could be as simple as singing holiday songs with your family, having a dance party, or hosting friends for a funny movie night at home (I have already scheduled an Elf Movie Night at my house for next week!). Remember not to take yourself too seriously, and don’t forget to laugh. Your family, coworkers, and friends will thank you for it later.

. . .

There are 25 days left in 2022. You deserve to make the rest of this year something that you can look back on with joy and pride. Only you know what’s right for you.