So here we are again. The tree is up, the lights are shining, and somewhere between the third holiday party and your fourth cup of eggnog, that familiar feeling of: where did this year go?
But here’s the thing about the holidays that nobody talks about: they’re not just for celebrating. They’re also for closure. And with just a couple of weeks left before we flip the calendar to 2026, you have a real shot at finishing strong. Let me tell you about five things you can do just before the new year:
1. Clear Out Your Digital Chaos
Remember when you downloaded that productivity app? And then filled it with 47 incomplete tasks, half of which you can’t even remember creating? Take an afternoon during the holiday break and do a complete digital sweep. Archive old projects in your task app that aren’t happening. Delete duplicate notes. Unsubscribe from those 15 newsletters you never read. Create a clean, simple task list for 2026 with maybe three to five realistic goals. Starting fresh in January when your app reflects your *current* life and not the past 12 months? That’s the productivity equivalent of walking into a freshly cleaned house. You’ll know exactly what needs your attention, and you won’t waste mental energy through digital clutter.
2. Actually Plan Next Year
We’ve all done it. New Year’s Eve comes around, you make big declarations about what you’re going to accomplish, and then January 2nd hits and you’re back to procrastinating. No judgment, we’re human. But what if this time you spent an hour breaking down those big dreams into manageable steps? Use your task app to create projects for your real goals. Want to learn Spanish? Break it into weekly lessons. Want to save $5,000? Calculate the monthly amount and set reminders. Hope isn’t a strategy, friend. But a well-organized task list with clear next steps? That’s something you can execute on. When you wake up on January 6th and you know exactly what to do that day, you’re already ahead of 90% of people. You won’t be paralyzed by the big goal because you’ll have small chunks of it right there in your todo list.
3. Tie Up Your Loose Ends
Remember that thing you’ve been putting off? The one that comes back to you when you’re trying to fall asleep? Maybe it’s that dentist appointment, or having a conversation you’ve been avoiding. Make a list of everything that’s nagging at you. Then pick three things and handle them before December 31st. There’s this weight we carry around with unfinished business that keeps bothering us during the holidays. Those loose ends are taking up more mental space than they deserve.
4. Do One Thing Just for You
This one’s a little different. Before 2026, try to do just one thing purely for fun. Not for productivity. Not for self-improvement. Not because it’ll help your career. Just because it makes you happy. Maybe it’s finally reading that book everyone keeps recommending. Taking a day trip somewhere you’ve never been. Whatever it is, put it in your task app with a deadline before December 31 and actually do it.
When you intentionally close out chapters, get your life a bit more organized, and set yourself up for what’s next, you’re already setting the tone for the new year. Let’s make it happen.
