7 Productive Things to Do Before the Year Ends

We are just a few days away from welcoming December, and as the year winds down, it’s natural to get caught up in the holiday rush. Before the festivities take over, consider using these final weeks to reflect, organize, and get ahead of the holiday chaos.

By getting ahead of the work now, you can ensure that when the holidays finally arrive, you’ll be able to enjoy the season without the last-minute scramble. Here are 7 productive things to do before the year ends.

1) Physical Declutter Start the new year with space and intention by clearing out physical clutter. Whether you’re tackling this task alone or with family, you can encourage kids to clean out their school backpacks and closets, while adults can go through the cabinets and storage boxes that haven’t been sorted through in years.

2) Digital Declutter Digital files accumulate very quickly, so set time aside to declutter your devices. Delete excess files on your computer and store important documents on a USB stick to free up space. The same goes for your phone. Go through your camera roll, delete unused apps, and refresh social media accounts by unfollowing accounts that no longer align.

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3) Create a Better System It’s time to come up with a better system to help you stay organized and keep you on track for the new year. Whether it’s creating a designated space for certain items, or simply making things more visible so that you’ll remember to use them, it makes your space more functional for everyone.

4) Holiday Cleaning With most of the clutter gone, cleaning should be an easier task to tackle for the holidays. Whether you want to refresh your home or tidy up for gatherings, focus on areas that are often overlooked. This includes washing curtains, wiping down baseboards, and dusting those high-ceiling light fixtures.

5) Tackle Tasks Early With the year flying by, it’s important to start tacking your holiday tasks early. If you have friends or family staying over for the holidays, use this time to refresh the guest room(s) ahead of time. Washing the bedding, replacing towels, and tidying up is no small task. The same goes for gift and grocery shopping. Starting early takes the pressure off when the holidays are in full swing.

6) Reflect and Set Goals Take a moment to reflect on this year. Celebrate your achievements and think about what you’ve learned from the setbacks. Move into the new year by writing down your personal, career, financial, and fitness goals. By analyzing what worked this year and what didn’t, you’re able to move forward with experience and continue with methods that worked for you.

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7) Review Your Finances The holidays can be expensive, so whether you need to budget for gifts or review your overall spending, it’s a great idea to identify areas that need improvement before the new year. This includes cancelling subscription services that you don’t use or even switching to a new service provider with better rates. It may seem like a daunting task, but many providers offer specific discounts during the holidays.

Set yourself up for a more peaceful holiday season and enter the new year feeling accomplished and prepared. The small efforts you make now will pay off, allowing you to enjoy your time with loved ones with less stress and more focus on what truly matters. What’s one small task you can tackle today to help reduce your holiday stress? I’d love know!

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