The last week of the year is my favorite week of the year. Between Christmas and New Year I hit the reset button and recalibrate my life. During this time, I leverage eight practices that help me wrap up one year and start the new year right.
1. Rest
The first practice is to slow my pace. The holidays can be hectic, not to mention the pace of life itself. Once Christmas is over, Karen and I intentionally slow the pace of our lives. We rest. We don’t load up the calendar with lots of activities. It’s a time to mentally, emotionally, and physically slow down. This week offers flex and spontaneity. This slowed pace creates a greater sense of peace, and it clears my mind to better leverage the other seven practices.
2. Recharge
The second practice is to recharge relationally. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are always spent with our families. We protect this time, and we consider it a relational tradition. The day after Christmas, we don’t go anywhere. It’s unrushed, unplanned, un-everything. In general, the week after Christmas is relationally refreshing. A few years ago we went to Disneyland, but most years we just enjoy time together at home and around the city.
3. Rejoice
It’s easy for leaders to get so focused on where they’re going that they never stop to express thanks for where they’ve been. I like to create a “gratitude list” during the last week of the year. It’s an opportunity to celebrate wins, and to rejoice in God’s goodness for what He has done throughout the year. My gratitude list includes a variety of things…God’s faithfulness, provision, moments of celebration, wins, goals reached, etc. (a big “rejoicing” moment a couple years ago was when I survived my heart and pulmonary failure).
4. Renew
Next, I like to set aside time for spiritual and mental renewal. I’ll spend extra time in Scripture and prayer, and let my soul be refreshed. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” To “seek first” is to make a single-minded priority – a first and foremost habit – to pursue a life fully submitted to Christ’s rule and authority, and to conform to Christ’s standard of character and holiness. When this happens, God provides the things that He knows we need.
I also use the “renew” practice to read a book or two that challenges my thinking and refreshes my soul. Over the years I’ve read books like Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul by Lance Witt, Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown, and Addicted to Busy by Brady Boyd. These books offer wisdom to stay in the game, remain spiritually and emotionally fit, and focus on the most important issues.
5. Reflect
The fifth practice is to reflect over the past year, mine for lessons, and glean key insights that will help me make the next year better. This is a great time to ask yourself questions like:
- What observations have I made from the last 12 months?
- What changes do I need to make in the new year?
- What do I need to stop or delegate?
- What do I need to start?
- Where do I need to invest time?
- What needs my attention?
- Where do I need to grow?
- What will give me the greatest return on my investment?
Reflective thinking is a valuable practice that yields dynamic insight for the future. Without reflection, we live in a constant state of reactionary panic.
6. Refocus
After a time of reflection, I refocus on what I consider to be my core identity. I intentionally take this time to review a “Destiny” document that includes my:
- Biblical Purpose – A single statement that articulates the big-picture purpose of my life.
- Life Mission – A single statement that articulates what God has called me to do.
- Core Values – A short list of what I value most in my life.
- Ultimate Contributions – A list of statements that describe the legacy I want to leave.
- Strategic Priorities – The top 5 things I must do to fulfill my purpose & mission.
- Life Scriptures – Passages of Scripture that are pivotal in my life.
- Life Goals – A list of objectives, hopes, and aspirations I would like to achieve before my life finishes.
This focusing process keeps me centered. It helps me refocus on God’s purpose for my life, how I can make the greatest contribution, and what is most important to me. It also gives me a starting point for mapping out the next year.
7. Remove
The seventh practice is all about de-cluttering my life. It’s very easy throughout the year to pick up habits, time-wasters, and distractors that rob my productivity. During this week, I intentionally remove this mental baggage from my life. That plays out in a number of ways including:
- Reviewing my calendar to see where I’m spending my time
- Creating a “stop do” and a “delegation” list
- Purging my email inbox
- Unsubscribing from every unnecessary email list
8. Reprioritize
Finally, I take time to identify strategic priorities for the new year. The last four practices (renew, reflect, refocus, and remove) help me to see more clearly, and they serve as the stimulus for developing my priorities for the new year. Reprioritization is usually expressed by:
- Creating a new Personal Growth TRAC (download my free ebook to learn how)
- Identifying goals for the new year
- Making schedule adjustments
- Clarifying next steps
One final note: The last week of the year is not rigid. I spread these practices out over the course of a week. I don’t cram them into one day, or race against a hard and fast deadline. Some take longer than others, but all of them can easily be done in less than a week. Remember, “rest” is the first practice. A slowed pace will help you think clearer and enjoy the process.
What do you do to start the new year right?
