Using the Year’s Close to Realign Your Values, Restore Your Energy & Reset Your Path Forward
As the year winds down, many of us naturally shift into performance-review mode—evaluating what we accomplished, what we didn’t, and where we might rank ourselves on some invisible scorecard. But what if this year, instead of just reviewing your performance, you reviewed your values?
The close of a year is a powerful energetic threshold. It carries both reflection and anticipation. Two states that, when blended intentionally, create remarkable clarity. And when holiday stress, end-of-year deadlines, family obligations, and emotional fatigue are layered on top, it becomes even more important to pause and check in with yourself.
Because burnout rarely comes from doing too much.
It comes from doing too much of what doesn’t matter.
This Wellness Wednesday, let’s explore how to use the final weeks of the year to reflect not just on what you did, but on who you were, what you valued, and whether your life matched those values. Let’s turn the end of the year into a grounding, clarifying ritual that gives you more peace—right in the middle of the holiday swirl.
Start With Values, Not Tasks
Most people start their end-of-year reflection by asking:
“What did I accomplish?”
A better first question is:
“Did I live in alignment with what I value most?”
Values drive energy. When you’re aligned, life feels purposeful. When you’re not, life feels heavy—no matter how much you accomplish.
Consider reflecting on questions like:
- What personal values mattered most to me this year? (Peace, growth, family, integrity, health, creativity, impact…)
- What moments felt the most energizing? What values were being honored in those moments?
- What moments drained me? Which values were being violated or ignored?
- Did my daily life match the life I say I want?
This reflection alone often reveals more truth than reviewing your goals.
Acknowledge What Went Well (Your Brain Needs This)
We are wired to scan for what didn’t work.
But your nervous system—and your confidence—need to feel what did work.
Pause and ask:
- What did I handle better this year than I would’ve last year?
- What challenges did I walk through with more clarity, maturity, or courage?
- What small wins accumulated quietly that I never celebrated?
Maybe you stuck with a routine longer than expected.
Maybe you asked for help when you normally would’ve pushed through alone.
Maybe you made a difficult decision that honored your well-being.
Give those moments space. They matter.
Identify What Needs to Change, without Judgment
Reflection is not about self-criticism or regret. It’s about awareness.
Once you’ve honored the wins, shift gently into:
- What did I tolerate that drained me?
- What habits, relationships, or commitments need to be re-evaluated?
- Where did I abandon my own boundaries or needs?
- What did I keep promising myself I’d do, but never created space for?
Instead of judgment, use curiosity:
- Why did I make that choice?
- What need was I trying to meet?
- What value do I want to honor more clearly next year?
The more compassion you bring to this process, the more clarity you gain.
Using the Holidays as a Mirror, not a Stress Test
Let’s be honest: the holidays can feel like a lot.
Even when they’re beautiful, they can be overwhelming:
More activities. More expectations. More emotions. More people. More pressure.
But the holidays don’t just reveal stress, they reveal patterns.
Pay attention to:
- Where you feel tension.
This often shows you where your boundaries are too thin or where you’re overextended. - Where you feel peace.
This shows you what your heart wants more of. - Where resentment builds.
This usually signals self-abandonment.
Instead of letting the season take over, let it guide you:
- Notice who you enjoy being around—and who drains you.
- Notice how your energy shifts depending on the environment.
- Notice the activities that feel restorative versus obligatory.
The holidays can be a stressor, but they can also be an incredibly honest mirror.
Use that mirror to make choices that protect your mental and emotional health in the coming year.
Let Your Old Year Teach You. Let Your New Year Invite You.
Moving into a new year doesn’t require a massive overhaul.
It requires meaningful alignment.
Once you’ve reflected, ask yourself:
- What values do I want to lead with next year?
- What routines or rituals support those values?
- What is one thing I want to release before the year ends?
- What is one thing I want to invite into my life in the new year?
Make the answers simple. Make them honest. Make them yours.
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about returning to yourself.
A Grounding End-of-Year Practice (Try This Week)
Set aside 20 minutes and journal through these prompts:
- This year, I’m proud that I…
- This year, I struggled with…
- The values that mattered most to me were…
- I honored those values when I…
- I drifted away from those values when I…
- In the new year, I want to feel more…
- To feel that way, I will…
Then choose one word or value to guide your next year.
Not a resolution.
A compass.
The Bottom Line
As we close out the year, be gentle with yourself.
You’ve lived, learned, grown, endured, adapted, tried, and survived more than you probably give yourself credit for.
Let this season be a reset—not through force, but through awareness.
You don’t need to become someone different next year.
You simply need to return to who you truly are—values first, clarity second, aligned action third.
Wishing you peace, presence, and a deeply aligned start to your new year.
If you’d like help reflecting on your year or setting up a burnout-proof plan for the next, I’m here to support you.
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And if you are too burned out and overwhelmed to even begin to use any of these strategies it might be time to get some help. Find a coach, therapist, or doctor who can help you reverse out of the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of burnout so you can get back to living in healthy balance.
Remember, Self-care isn’t selfish…it’s required!
Yvonne Lee-Hawkins, IPHM, is a holistic Leadership and Wellness coach, stress strategist, and writer, who spent 20 years in corporate and leadership functions. When she is not working, she loves to go on nature adventures with her family, in the Pacific Northwest where they call home. You can find out more on her website, or follow her on LinkedIn, Medium, or Instagram.
If you want some help transforming your burnout into your strength, preventing your team from burning out, or with general wellness, schedule a call here.