This week I am releasing my podcast a day early as tomorrow is Christmas!! Ho Ho Ho! I can’t believe this, time passes so quickly and now we are about to step into 2020!! 

This is the time of the year I like to schedule some time for myself, thinking about this year and setting new intentions for next year. If you have been following my podcast, you would have seen my Year-End Review and Strategic Plan episode that outlines what I do and how I do it every year. I find this task not only super productive, but it gives me a ton of clarity and excitement in setting myself up for success next year. If you've missed that episode, no worries, you can find it here. 

Here are 5 more tips I want to leave with you before the end of the year, as I know that these tips have helped me in finishing the year with a big smile and pumped for next year. 

Count Your Blessings 

The saying goes, when you count your blessings, your blessings count. Also, I think Oprah said it that the more you are grateful, there are more to be grateful for. Just like anyone, we all have the ups and downs throughout the year. Sometimes we get into the habit of beating ourselves up for the mistakes or missed opportunities and forget to congratulate our wins or appreciate good things that happened out of the blue. I invite you to think about all the happy moments that you treasured this year, whether it was a good get-together with your friends or just watching you baby laugh the other day. Choose your thoughts wisely and embrace gratitude and pleasure this time of the year. 

Digital Detox 

After all the festive meals, we hear people say they need to detox and eat clean for January. That is certainly a fine idea but I also like to invite you to spend less time on social media and your mobile devices. Take the time to connect with people and stay offline as much as possible. You will be amazed by how you feel after a couple of days. It’s like you are no longer distracted and less “busy” for nothing. 

Quiet Time For YOU 

Following the digital detox, I would also like to recommend some total quiet time, meaning schedule nothing but spend some time alone. I know it may be hard given you will likely to have friends and family around during the holidays, but try to let people know you just need a couple of hours to do “something”, and that “something” is in fact, “nothing” (but you don’t have to tell them that :-). I suggest, no reading, learning, socializing. Less intellectual the better. Just simply BE. Maybe go for a walk or take a long bath. I want you to allow some quiet time to sink in so that you can hear what your body, mind and spirit try to tell you. We are far too often over-scheduled with activities that don’t leave enough room and silence to let us hear our deepest inner thoughts. This is the best time of the year to do this, so go for it! 

Plan Ahead

I do subscribe to the saying that if you fail to plan, you are plan to fail. I am not rigid or over-detailed by all means, I love being spontaneous and free-flowing, but there are certain things I do believe we need structure, strategic and roadmap. Whatever new project, intentions or goals you have in mind, try to set aside some time to plan for it and start thinking what you need to do,