I’ve already written before about my end of the year ritual.

I always do this every year, and it’s quite simple to understand but not that easy to do. It tends to take me a long time to go over it.

Particularly the analysis of the year that is coming to an end. This is the time where I look to the whole year, notice what I’ve done and not done, what went well and didn’t go so well. I do it in regards not only to me personally, but also in all my projects and trainings.

I review my notes, journals, goals and so on.

I try to understand the most important lessons of this past year so that I don’t repeat the same mistakes in the new year and potentiate what went well.

If I have made good decisions, I’ll establish some new year’s objectives to pursue that same path or a similar one.

I also take time to fix loose ends.

I don’t want to enter the new year with unfinished businesses from the old one. So, whatever it’s possible to wrap up – even small things (like house chores!) – I do it.

Sometimes it’s not possible to wrap up everything. But it’s important to fix whatever is possible to fix.

I try to get a sense of closure of the past year and I can only achieve this by wrapping up the loose ends, review the year and bury what needs to be buried.

Personally, I value a lot this sense of closure.

I consider the new year a fresh start. With new learnings, experiences, teachings, and so on. Even if our calendar system is an artificial construction, it’s still the one we are most psychologically connected to, so might as well use it as a transition point.

And that’s what I do.

I establish my focus points for the new year. What I want to improve in myself and what I want to accomplish with specific action steps to get there.

Whether you do this particular ritual or not, it’s not important. But you’ll sure gain a lot in the sense of closure of the past and some sort of preparation for the future. So, if you do it in the new year’s even or in Summer solstice is the same. The important part is to examine yourself and your life.

Have a great New Year!