How to Wrap Up the Year

This whole dark at 5pm thing is really messing with me. We just turned the clocks back again, which means we're officially in seasonal jet lag. I walk around in astonishment as though it hasn't happened every year previously.

The days are shorter, darker and let's be real, a bit overwhelming. It''s like I wake up, see the grey sky, and before I know it the day's gone swallowed up in pitch black by dinnertime. By 7 it feels like midnight and I'm in my pyjamas. 

I can feel it in my body too - my shoulders tensing against that first snowstorm and the long winter ahead. As a kid, snow days felt like magic, a perfect excuse to play. Now? I'm already counting down to our February escape to somewhere warm and sunny - a little mental boost to help make it through the cold months.

This time of year feels confusing to me. Am I supposed to be winding down or gearing up for next year? Even though it's a bit early, the seasonal vibes are getting me in the holiday spirit. Yet, it feels the year got away on me and there's still so much full-speed productivity time left in the next 2 months that I could make good use of. Spoiler Alert: It will probably be a fusion.

I'm feeling like I need a game plan to finish this year. Sound familiar? Later today, I'm going to take some time to curl up on the couch in my favourite sweater with a hot beverage and ask myself how I plan on wrapping up this year. I know that with a clear picture in front of me my mind will feel lighter.

I'll start by freeing up some brain space. For me, that means getting everything out of my head and onto paper. I'm sorting through the must-do's and nice-to's, revising my goals, loose ends I want to wrap up, and realistic timelines.

I suspect overly-ambitious projects won't make the cut. I'm setting my bigger business goals aside to concentrate on what's realistic, which will help me avoid the stress of overpromising to myself. I'll prioritize essentials and allow less urgent task to wait. Anything that would simply be nice to complete? I'll let myself off the hook.

What about you? Have you thought about what's actually do-able for you in the final stretch of the year?