7 Things to Do to Wrap Up the Year

The year is quickly winding down and before we know it, we will be getting endless reminders that the New Year is here and we’ll be deep into 2016.

However, we still have 7 weeks left of 2015.

That’s a good chunk of time to really make the final weeks count. It’s easy to write off the remainder of the year because of the holidays (and the endless parties and obligations that come with that), or because it’s cold and you’d rather snuggle up on the couch with a good book or your honey, or because you finally can slap on your dusty skis and hit the slopes.

What can you do in 7 weeks?

A lot!

Here are 7 things – one for each week – that you can do to wrap up 2015.

(Next week we’ll talk about getting ready for a productive 2016)

1.Take a {Real} Day Off

This time of year is often about giving and spending time with others. It is a wonderful time of year but don’t forget to spend some quality time alone to recharge.  If your plans are anything like ours, 2016 is going to be a busy year so take a day off just for yourself.

2.Cross Off Lingering To-Do

Is there an item on your  to-do list that has been lingering for weeks or even months?  This is the perfect time to finally take care of it.  Don’t let it follow you into the New Year.

3.Finish Your Books Now

Don’t wait until February to do your bookkeeping for 2015.  Make sure you finish up all your bookkeeping before the ball drops on NYE.  There is nothing worse than diving into the New Year with so much enthusiasm to find yourself deflated by spending hours (or even days) on last year’s bookkeeping.

4.Reflect with Honesty

What worked this year? What didn’t go quite so well? This is a great time to go back and review the whole year – month-by-month, project-by-project. We often look forward without truly reflecting on what worked and didn’t work in the past. Did a project you really believed in not turn a profit? Did you spend a lot of time creating and not much time marketing? Whatever it may be take note and include it in your plans for 2016.

5.Celebrate the Wins

As ambitious business owners, we often have our eyes fixed on the road ahead. We have our plans, our to-do lists, our vision boards. We often forget to take a moment and celebrate the wins of the last year.  It’s important to recognize all the work you’ve done thus far and how far you’ve already come in your business.  Buy yourself some gorgeous flowers, pop open a bottle of champagne with a friend, or go for a luxuriously slow hike atop a beautiful mountain. However you like to celebrate – make sure you take some time to do so.

6.Decide What Can Be Ditched

What tasks, projects, or obligations can you ditch next year.  Let’s face it we are both the CEO and worker bee and often the bee’s job overtakes the big thinking, strategic and creative role of the CEO.  In reflecting on the year, did you spend entirely too much time on admin tasks at the expense of things that truly push your business forward?  Is there a way to automate some of the tasks and get them off your plate? Can you hire an intern next year to do some social media? Is it time to hire a bookkeeper who helps out once a month or once a quarter?

7.Pull Out Last Years Plans & Notes

Let’s take a look at what your plans were this time last year.  Were there any projects or ideas that were planned but you didn’t get to this year?  Why?  Did your priorities or direction changed? Did you scrap the project because of time or resources? Were you scared?  Also, go through your notebooks, calendars, Evernote – wherever you keep your notes and review some of the ideas you jotted down.  There might be some gems to include for next year.

Let’s start the New Year not only excited about everything you plan to accomplish but also having reflected on the past year. It’s easy to plan for the following year without taking a good look at the present year.  Make sure you wrap up 2015 with intention so that your 2016 will start with a bang!

Share how you’ll wrap up the year below!

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