Finish Strong, Start Stronger: How to End the Year to Shape the Year Ahead

When we step into Q4, sometimes we underestimate where we really are! LOL

The end of the year has a way of sneaking up on us. Before you know it, the calendar fills, deadlines pile up, and…BAMM! The Q4 holidays blur into January.

You might be hearing a TON about “finishing strong” right now. It’s always a Q4 theme, and I’m going to go with it, because it is important.

I want to be very clear about something: It’s not about cramming in every unchecked task on your list. Please don’t.

It’s about closing this chapter…these two seasons…this quarter…with clarity, purpose, intention, energy, and…strength!

And let us not forget closing out, and maintaining momentum...with JOY!

That can look different for different people, so it doesn’t mean you’re not taking time off, or even slowing down. It simply means you are capable of, and clear on moving forward.

Don’t roll your eyes 🙄, because you’ll need all of these so you can step into the new year without feeling exhausted, scattered, or even defeated.

Here’s what I know to be true:

How you finish this year sets the tone for how you’ll begin the next.

Imagine starting the new year calm, steady, confident, and ready. (Rhyme not intended. LOL)

Why the Finish Line Matters More Than You Think

Although I never ran track, I always loved watching it. Still do.

What I’ve noticed with track or other races, is that the way a runner crosses the finish line doesn’t change what already happened prior. But it does change how they feel afterward.

Do they cross barely hanging on, leaning in hard to “cheat” how they cross? Or do they push with just enough strength and energy to know they gave it their best, walking away (with or without the ‘win’) with integrity and JOY?

That last stretch matters. The same goes for your year.

When you leave December with unfinished projects, scattered or unclear priorities, and especially with almost no energy…you carry all.the.things into January like heavy luggage. And I’m not talking about the kind on rollers either!

However, when you finish “well” it looks like tying up loose ends, reflecting on lessons, and celebrating progress…across the line...with energy to spare!

And THAT sets you up to step into the new year with a lighter load, clearer vision, and that energy to kick the year off…stronger!

Now, I’m so not talking about perfection. I like to think of it as a way for YOU to utilize YOUR unique way to make wise choices to complete the year with your excellence.

That’s it. Not fluffy at all.

What would that look like for you?

The Confidence Factor: Completion Builds Trust

Here’s something I see often with my clients: confidence doesn’t just come from big wins. It grows from completion.

A lot of people struggle with implementation AND completion.

When you finish something you started…whether it’s launching a project, cleaning up your office, or following through on a commitment…you send yourself a powerful message:

“I can trust myself to follow through.”

It’s a beautiful feeling, and that kind of trust in your ability is priceless. It builds a “humble” confidence for the bigger things waiting for you in the year ahead. Yep. Across the bridge!

Without some realistic views and focus…chances are you won’t finish everything before the year ends, and that’s okay. But what if you could choose a few key things that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, and finish those?

Think quality over quantity.

Making best choices on what to finish, then finishing those will definitely lighten your mental load. It will also remind you that you’re capable of showing up, finishing strong, and moving forward with confidence.

I’m all about the forward. 😎

Momentum: Keep the Steps Going

Momentum doesn’t show up in January out of nowhere. Hello?

It builds with every intentional step you take now.

Imagine: When you finish strong, you don’t have to start from scratch after the New Year countdown, and the ball drops.

You’re already in motion.

You’re already showing yourself that you can stay focused, disciplined, and intentional, even in a busy season…to and through the end. What I’m talking about is managing your rhythms with grace.

This makes it SO much easier to face new goals in January, because you’re not trying to shift from zero to sixty. You’re continuing the rhythm you’ve already established. I love this!

So…think of what you do during this season as building a runway. That means when the new year takes off, you’re ready to go with it. How awesome would that be?

Now I want to be clear on something, so…clear your mind. 😊

Momentum doesn’t mean doing more. It means doing better.

Powerful.

Ok. Carry on.

Setting the Standard: Your Effort Shapes Your Future

The way you finish this year is also the standard you set for yourself moving forward.

As I mentioned earlier, when you commit to wrapping up with focus and discipline, you show yourself that you can follow through…even when distractions are high…even when the calendar is full…even when things are messy.

That kind of standard matters. Because when life gets hard (and it will), you can look back and remind yourself: “I know how to finish well. I can get through this.” 😊

This is what I love about this type of mindset. It’s about setting the bar for your best…and that’s for effort and self. Remember, you’re showing yourself that you can reach that bar!

The Emotional Payoff of Finishing Strong

You might think that finishing strong is a cliché productivity hack. Well, sure. AND…it’s an emotional reset that so many of us need this time of year.

When you close out the year with intention, you’ll have:

Clarity about what really matters
A stronger sense of confidence
Relief from annoying, unfinished tasks
Fresh perspective and motivation for new goals
Peace of mind knowing you gave it your best

In my humble opinion…these aren’t “nice to haves.” These are lifestyle must haves. Fuel to your fire. Emotional fuel you’ll have to walk into the new year with clarity and a sense of readiness.

I say…choose that over stress, regret, or mental clutter. 🙌🏽

Creating Closure: Making Space for What’s Next

Closure is a gift you give yourself. It’s how you leave one chapter behind without dragging it into the next. It becomes, as I said, fuel, vs baggage.

That might mean finishing “lingerings”, if that’s a word. It might mean having an honest reflection on lessons learned. It might mean letting go of what no longer serves you…to serve others. And it definitely looks like gratitude for blessings, opportunities, even…hard things.

Whatever it looks like for you, closure matters because it frees your mental and emotional space.

And here’s what I love about this; When you tie up loose ends, you don’t feel pulled backward.

You’re free to walk forward toward new opportunities, new growth, and new JOYous possibilities! Yaas!! 😎

Building Your Foundation for Growth

I love foundations. And when you finish strong, you’re not just wrapping up the year...you’re laying down a foundation for growth…forward.

You bring forward the clarity you’ve created, the confidence you’ve built, and the momentum you’ve gained. Instead of starting the year from a place of hesitation or doubt…you start from strength!

That foundation is what allows you to grow higher, faster, stronger…better in the year ahead.

How to Finish Strong Without Burning Out

Burnout is real. And end-of-year burnout is…totally unnecessary!

So…you may be wondering how you actually do this in real life. Like, when your calendar is already full to overflowing, and the holidays are pressing in.

Am I right, or am I right?

Here are a few practical and simple steps:

(Feel free to adjust the order for YOU.)

Pick 3 Key Things to Complete
Don’t try to do it all. Choose the 2–3 tasks or projects that are either the most pressing, OR (and this is my favorite), that will make the biggest impact. Either one will contribute to helping you feel complete.
Reflect Before You Step
Take time now to pause and reflect: What worked this year? What didn’t? What do you want to carry forward, AND…and what do you want to leave behind? That’s a biggie.
Celebrate Your Wins
Too often we skip this. Write down every win. Big or small. Give credit where credit is due. Be grateful! Both gratitude and celebration fuel motivation.
Clear the Clutter (Physical and Mental)
Clean your space! Declutter your files. Write down lingering to-dos and either finish them or release them. Write down any feelings or beliefs you’ve been carrying around, and either deal with them, or release them.
Set Your Focus for January
End the year knowing your first step for the new year. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a giant plan…but you will need a plan. You could simply…identify the best next thing.

The Bridge into a New Year

I love me a bridge! Obviously. LOL I mean…it’s why I built my podcast and blog around it. It’s how I live my life!

I look for them everywhere. I’ll even go out of my way (or so it may seem 😉) to see or even cross one.

And I can use a bridge analogy here. The end of the year is a bridge. I mean, it’s connecting where you’ve been with where you’re going. Easy to see, right?

So, here’s the takeaway: If you stumble across in a fog of exhaustion, you’ll start the new year feeling drained and behind. Hard pass.

But if you walk with clarity, purpose, intention, and strength…you’ll step onto the other side with the same. And…you’ll carry momentum and JOY with you. Just sayin’.

Here’s my encouragement to you: Finish strong…not to prove something, but to prepare for something.

You can have:

clarity - so you’ll know where you’re going and what’s next
confidence - so there’s no confusion or doubt
momentum - so the steps keep going…easier

Listen…you can walk into the new year lighter, steadier, and more focused on who you are becoming.

Have you considered that?

Imagine…what would that feel like?

You can…keep walking. 😎

Could you use some help with this? Finishing strong? Depending on when you read this, you can either join my 30-day challenge, or walk through this on your own. The 30-day challenge can be done at your own pace, with my guidance, OR with my real-time, hands-on guidance. Together we can decide your 30-day window in Q4.

Contact me now, to see what’s available for you. Cool?

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I'll meet you on the bridge!

Deni