By Marquita Herald, Emotionally Resilient Living, November 2, 2015

Ignore it if you will, deny it if you dare, but the reality is we are rapidly closing in on the end of this year and you know what that means … bloated schedules and s-t-r-e-s-s.

It’s not that we don’t have plenty of reminders to get prepared; yet, no matter how aware we are that it’s coming, and try to avoid it, end of year stress happens, just like clockwork, because the triggers are always the same, too many commitments, end of year work responsibilities, crowds, family gatherings, add a dash of guilt for those unfulfilled goals, and for some … a few hastily thrown together New Year’s Resolutions.

A lot of end-of-year related stress can be reduced – if not eliminated entirely – if we would recognize ahead of time what our vulnerabilities are and make the time to plan accordingly, learn to prioritize the things that matter most and have more realistic expectations – and above all – stop over committing ourselves.

No one can create negativity or stress within you. Only you can do that by virtue of how you process your world. ~Author Unknown

How to End the Year on a High

Make Time for Reflection

Begin by taking a little stroll down memory lane and give some thought to how far you’ve come this year. (If you journal or keep track of your goals this will be a breeze, if not then maybe that’s something you’ll want to add to your planning for next year.) Identify the lessons you’ve learned and areas where you’ve grown so that you can be proud of and own your accomplishments by answering the following questions.

• What are the most important life lessons you learned this year?
• What have you accomplished since this time last year?
• What is your most favorite memory of this year so far?
• What have you learn about yourself this year?

Give yourself some time to think about these questions. Try keeping a notepad or a 3 x 5 card with you to jot down and save those fleeting thoughts as they pop into your mind. Yes, yes, I know your handy digital device is more convenient, but the benefit of actually writing things down in black and white is that it helps you to clarify them, plus you’re more likely to do a little associated creative thinking and doodling, which has gained a lot of respect in recent years as a way of exploring concepts, staying focused and retaining information.

You might consider making this a family project and challenge everyone to list what they’ve learned and what they are most grateful for. This is a great habit to get the kids into and Thanksgiving would be the perfect time to share!

Reset Priorities

Now’s the time to reset priorities and expectations by reviewing commitments, and taking a hard look at that perpetually overflowing task list along with what remains of your goals for the year.

• For each commitment ask yourself if it’s truly important, or has it simply become a habit?
• Are there are unpleasant tasks or conversations you’ve been putting off? You’ll feel so much more at ease and confident once you clear lingering unresolved issues to start the New Year off free of old baggage.
• Is there one thing on your list of goals that you didn’t get around to – but really wanted to? What could you do between now and the end of the year to accomplish it, or at least make some serious progress?
• How could this Holiday Season be even better than the last? What are stress points that could be eliminated? What have you always wanted to do, but never managed to make the time for?*
• Get a handle on hectic holiday schedules by sitting down early with the family and set up a holiday season calendar with events, outings and activities.

*Once known commitments are filled in, why not give each family member an opportunity to contribute something for the list of things to do together this holiday season. What about a family community project like collecting food for the needy or toys for a local shelter? Hang your holiday calendar in a prominent place, and be sure to keep it updated.

Click here to check out Christmas by Design for more ideas on activities, family traditions, making the most Christmas on a budget and how alone doesn’t have to mean lonely during the holidays.

Recharge for the Weeks That Lie Ahead

Now is the time to clear physical and mental clutter. Bring paperwork up to date and either properly store or toss it when you’re through. Get the family involved and go through your home room by room, collect those things you no longer want and either dump or donate them to a local charity.

To pump up your energy if you don’t already follow an exercise regime start walking every day for at least 20 minutes until the New Year begins. Not only will you feel livelier but you will be avoiding the weight gain problems so common during the holiday season. You never know, you might just enjoy the walking so much that it could become a full-fledged habit for the New Year!

As the old saying goes, you may not be able to start over with a new beginning, but anyone can begin today to create a new ending and these are just a few ways you can end this year on a high and start the New Year raring to go!

If you have any suggestions on ending the year on a high note I hope you will take a moment to share with a comment below.

Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become.

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Everything about Emotionally Resilient Living is focused on the core mission of cultivating inner strength and learning to find the opportunities for growth in all of your experiences! To learn more about ERL please visit the “About ERL” page, and if you’re curious about me you might like to read My Story.