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10 Things To Do Before the End of the Year

2013 December 26
by WWGD

10ThingsToDoBefore2014-WhatWouldGwynethDo

If I have to admit it, 2013 wasn’t a very good year around here. I think it was the whole 13 thing. If we can avoid it altogether on elevators, why couldn’t the calendar just skip over it as well? But now that it’s coming to a close, I want to try to salvage it a little. I want to end it on a high note and have the last few days make up for the 360 or so that preceded them. Make ’13 nothing but a stepping stone for ’14.

Here are 10 things you can do before the end of the year to make it (and the next one) a good one:

1) Get a massage. Or a facial. Or a pedicure. Whatever it is that makes you happy. Pencil in some real relaxation, if even just for an hour.

2) Set a list of intentions for 2014. Not resolutions, not things you want to necessarily change or do better. Just things you want to do. Here is a great guide.

3) Talk to your partner. Really talk to him (or her). Look back at the year that just passed and discuss how you both felt about it. Look to the year ahead and how you can go into it on the same page.

4) Do your Spring cleaning early. Surely your closets and cupboards and playrooms are feeling a little full after the holidays so take this time to clear them out and go into the new year with a little less excess.

5) Make a list of books you want to read in 2014 and commit yourself to one per month (at least) and make a list of places you want to travel to in 2014, in order of importance.

6) Figure out what, if anything, was dragging you down in 2013 and make it a priority to change those things in 14. Health and career both stressed me out a bit this year. I realized that, said it out loud and now I am focused on figuring out how to better both in the 12 months ahead.

7) Pull together a monthly budget. It doesn’t need to be fancy (ours is in Excel) or professional – heck, it doesn’t even need to add up perfectly to the last penny each month. But be real about your finances and what’s to come, expense-wise, so you can set your mind (and your spending) at ease when it comes to money.

8) Find your release. It may be Calm.com or a workout or a daily journal. Figure out what really helps you destress and decompress and promise yourself you will make it habitual.

9) Lose something. Not just physically, but mentally. It might mean giving up a social media channel that is draining too much of your energy and time. Or letting a client go if they aren’t a fit for you. Or canceling one of your kid’s many after-school activities and opting for some free time that day instead. Take one thing that really doesn’t make a huge difference and remove it from your life altogether.

10) Dream up your dream life. Pin it, draw it, write about it. Figure out what it looks like (at this moment in time, at least). Work towards it. Get inspired by it. And keep it close.

4 Responses
  1. Erin permalink
    December 26, 2013

    I love this list! # 2 & # 9 speak to me the most. Thanks for the inspiration, Happy New Year!

  2. janine permalink
    December 27, 2013

    so needed this. perfect list, thank you. all the best for good things in 2014!

  3. December 27, 2013

    I really love this list.

    The Rambling Fangirl

  4. stella permalink
    December 28, 2013

    So good. Thanks for the reminders and inspiration.

Comments are closed.