Guiding Scripture: "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV)

Right now, a lot of life coaches and social media influencers are giving detailed strategies for how to prepare for the new year. Personally, I like to keep things simple. Here's a list of the things I have been doing (and will continue to do) as we leave 2019 and head into 2020:

1. Pray and seek God’s direction for the new year (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Have a year-in-review meeting with my husband.
3. Check in with my kids about their goals and possibly update them.
4. Spend time catching up with my closest friends and ask how I can support them better.
5. Revisit and update my goals and dreams. I have monthly, quarterly and annual goals, along with a basic 5-year plan that I check---and revise---regularly.
6. Make time to rest. Don’t miss this step. It’s a critical one that so many women miss for many reasons, and when we do, we pay the price.

Action Steps: 

1. Schedule time to do a “year-in-review” with your family (or an accountability partner if you’re single). Put in on your calendar so it doesn’t get lost in the holiday chaos.
2. Make as much time for rest and self-care as possible, even if it’s just an hour or two. Try to set aside an entire day if you can.