How to finish the year strong: Small shifts count

You can still finish the year strong – not by doing more, but by making mindful shifts that count.

A friend told me how many Saturdays until Christmas and I realised how fast the year is disappearing! September already, and the weeks ahead feel like a blur of deadlines, family logistics and endless to-do lists. It’s the season where decision fatigue hits hardest, and yet, it’s also the perfect moment to pause and choose how we want to finish.

There’s a shiny new suitcase in the corner of my room that’s still completely empty.

We leave for South Africa in just days, and before then I need to:

• Get the house sorted for Miss 18 (who’s staying home alone for the first time)
• Plan a 21st party for the week we get back
• And maybe, finally, figure out what to actually pack for three weeks of action and celebrations in the African bush, on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, and in my soul’s home – Cape Town.

It’s the first time in over two years we’ll all be together, and there’s so much to celebrate:
✨ My dad’s belated 80th
✨ My sister’s engagement and wedding (yes, all in one amazing weekend in Mozambique!)
✨ My youngest sister’s 50th
✨ And an early family cheers for my son’s 21st

It’s going to be beautiful. And busy. And full.

And isn’t that exactly how this time of year rolls?

The Season of “Too Much”

Mid-September always feels like the tipping point. The calendar gasps for air, inboxes groan, end-of-term activities pile up, work deadlines press in and family logistics feel endless. Somewhere in there, we’re supposed to squeeze in five minutes to think about how we actually want the year to end.

That’s where my Countdown practice comes in.

As I’ve been revisiting the content I created for the 2025 Countdown (12 weeks of reflection + action in the 2025 Countdown Your Recipe to a Flourishing Finish, starting 1st October and taking you through to Christmas Eve), I’ve been reminded of how easy it is to let the basics slip when life starts speeding up.

Take Week 3, for example. It’s about decluttering your underwear drawer. (Yes, really.)

Because when you’re about to share laundry loads with extended family for three weeks, you’re not packing the saggy pairs – IYKYK. But more than that, it’s a reminder of how often we hang onto things that no longer support us, just because they’re familiar. That’s true for our goals and habits, too.

Choosing What Stays and What Goes

As I’ve been scheduling content ahead of travel, Week 1 of the Countdown nudged me to get really honest about what’s actually going to get done this year… and what isn’t.

Some goals are getting shelved for next year (without guilt).
Some, I’ve realised, were never really mine to begin with, they were more “shoulds” than yeses.
A few, like getting my health back on track, are staying, but in a new way. (I’ll be diving into The Well Nourished Midlife Reset when I return – a flexible, supportive approach to nourishing body and mind through this season of life.)

That reflection has been so grounding. Because the truth is, what worked for me ten years ago doesn’t work now. It’s time to do things differently.

Even the little things matter. Between laundry loads and packing lists, I’ve made space to:
✍🏼 Jot down ideas for the 21st slideshow (a great plane activity for a non-sleeper at 38,000 feet)
📚 Download books to my Kindle (any good recommendations?)
🧠 Brain dump the things I still want to do this year – the ones that feel exciting, not exhausting

It turns out, even a few minutes of intentional action can shift the way I feel. And that’s the heart of the Countdown.

Why the Last 12 Weeks Matter

The beauty of a 12-week practice isn’t just that it happens at the end of the year. Any twelve weeks count.

It’s enough time to make meaningful progress. Enough time to revisit and reset. Enough time to remind ourselves that life isn’t measured in chores, but in choices.

Whether you’re packing for a family trip, navigating the mental load of everyday life, or simply trying to close the year with more clarity than chaos – there’s space to finish strong, in ways that actually feel good.

Learning to Bring the Glow Home

This holiday will give me new insights too – and like last time, I don’t want them to disappear under the weight of laundry and logistics. That’s exactly why I created Bring the Glow Home.

It’s a 7-part audio coaching series designed to help you:

• Capture the lessons from “holiday-you” before they fade
• Ease decision fatigue and spot the habits that drain your glow
• Find more presence, joy and connection in your everyday life
• Anchor it all with a printable Glow Map so the changes actually stick

Because you don’t need another plane ticket to feel alive again. You just need a way to bring that glow back into the days you’re already living.

👉 Click here to Bring the Glow Home and discover how the last 12 weeks of the year (or any 12 weeks) can feel more intentional, energising and yours.