As the year comes to an end, people tend to go back to their to-do lists. See the clauses that are already done, the ones in the process, and those that were not yet started. One may ask what is so different about the end of the year that people are so preoccupied with their goals and what they have achieved so far. Let’s break it down a little.
Self-evaluation is a concept which helps us see ourselves and assess important parts of our identities. It most commonly helps us navigate through the parts of ourselves that are developed enough and the ones that need improvement. Each year, people come up with wish lists that they keep either in their heads, write down on pieces of paper, or orally speak out to the universe. Either way, there is a sense of new challenges that need to be achieved. As the year comes to an end, these lists are opened and scanned through in order to understand where it went wrong and where it went right.
The idea that a whole year has passed brings about a feeling of a big time period which should have been spent on reaching our dreams and making them come true. This is also a form of social norm where, collectivistically, people want to feel more productive and gain a perspective on where they currently stand and how far they are from what they want to achieve.
If you think about it, the 31st of December is a day just like the 1st of January or the 25th of March, but there is a certain meaning that New Year’s Eve holds. It not only brings us to one table filled with laughter and memory narratives but also ignites hopes and allows us to leave the past behind, making it a time for reflections as well as planning.
How do we leave behind the things that bring us down and write 2026 plans in a healthy manner?
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Realize that you did the best you could for yourself this year.
Even if it did not bring you where you wanted to be. This also applies to regrets of this year. If it could have been different, it would have been. This year you did what you could in the best possible way. -
Identify patterns that you will leave in 2025.
It may be a bad habit of yours that you do not feel belongs to you anymore or a sentence you tell yourself that breaks you down. -
Decide what you will carry with yourself from 2025 that made you feel good and appreciated.
Reflect on what you did that healed you and brought you closer to where you see yourself. -
Focus on building sentences reflecting progress, not perfection.
Instead of aiming for never overthinking again in 2026, reframe it to learning how to postpone bothersome thoughts. -
Think about an activity you would like to do more in the upcoming year.
This may be a physical activity or a new hobby that you would like to undertake. -
Write down the things you are thankful for doing for yourself this year.
Every small step counts. Every effort, every time you stood up from bed even when you did not feel like it. Give yourself credit.
With the hustle of the last days of the year, where work is busy and you are somewhere between making new plans for the next year and half-tied present ribbons, it is important to carve a moment to reflect. As you step into a new year, choose progress over perfection, soft talk over self-blame, and compassion. Make plans that will not pressure you to fit into a perfect scenario. Remember to praise yourself for the growth. Trust your pace, focus on the journey rather than the goals, and let 2026 meet you exactly as you are.