🛬 How to Finish the Year Strong

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Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If you’re new around here, welcome! 👋  You can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: 2026 is right around the corner, and we’re about to see a ton of content on goals, resolutions, and reinventions. To help you cut through the BS, we’re kicking off an EOY series to help you close out 2025 and welcome 2026 your way. Let’s dig in!

😮‍💨 But First, a Breather

2025 has flown by.

When was the last time you paused to catch your breath?

Regardless of how long it’s been, we’ve included this space for you to simply exist and take that well-deserved pause.

Stay here for as long as you need. Take some deep, cleansing breaths.

If you’re feeling heavy, trust yourself to set down some of that weight in this moment. And if a happy memory or uplifting emotion pops up that you’d like to explore, feel free.

(By the way, it’s okay if you can’t or don’t want to “quiet your mind” like they always say to do in meditation classes. This is notoriously hard to do and takes years of practice to master.)

When you’re ready, scroll on for some mindset tips to help you prep for the holiday season.

💆‍♂️ Your Pre-Holiday Mindset Reset

As if exam season and Q4 deadlines weren’t already stressful enough, the pressure of “holiday cheer” can make this season even busier and harder than it already is.

And while the tinsel, lights, and holiday music can feel inescapable, the good news is you don’t have to buy into it, if you don’t want to.

No matter how you feel about the end-of-year “crunch” season, here are a few mindset shifts you can try to stay balanced:

🚦 Set boundaries with yourself

We so often talk about boundaries with others, but maintaining boundaries with yourself is vital at this time of year.

Examples: “I’ll resist the urge to make an ambitious New Year’s resolution because I know I won’t stick to it” / “If Uncle Dave says something upsetting, I’ll respond in a way that aligns with my values and wellbeing.”

🍦 Create “buffers” for obligations that drain your battery

Dreading that family dinner or work party? Plan something fun or nourishing before and after, if you can.

Preparing will sustain you throughout the event and help you recover afterward. And if things still get overwhelming, you can always take a bathroom break or step outside for a moment.

🫂 Tell your people how you feel

Whether you’re excited, indifferent, or exhausted, let your family and friends know where you’re at. Not only will this help you understand each other better, but it can also open the door to alternative holiday activities that suit everyone. If you’re expecting friction or conflict, try scripting out your half of the convo first.

Now that you’ve got some emotional resilience tips, let’s explore a few ways to close out this year so you can properly transition into the next.

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Now, here’s how to end 2025 on a high note!

🛬 How to “Land the Plane” on 2025

Before you pick up that shiny new planner to get a jumpstart on 2026, here are a few things you can try to wrap up 2025.

🕊️ Release any “shoulds”

This includes anything you feel you “should have” done earlier in the year, as well as stuff you “should do” before the year ends.

Set down all your “shoulds” and practice being comfortable with where you are right now.

We’re not talking about the stuff you have to do — releasing the “shoulds” makes more room for the stuff that absolutely must get done.

🏆 Acknowledge your wins

You’ve heard all about “celebrating” your wins. And while that’s important to do, it can also feel impossible for so many reasons.

If celebrating feels forced or phony, simply try acknowledging your wins instead. Be generous here! Even “small” stuff counts.

We often view our goals and milestones as something we can “teleport” to, fast-forwarding the journey in between — only to move the goalpost once we get there.

But remember, you can’t get to your destination without first taking every step leading up to it. Wherever you are on your path, chances are you’ve covered a lot more ground than you think. Realizing that will help you maintain your momentum in 2026.

😌 Prioritize rest and relaxation

For a personal development newsletter, we talk a lot about rest. That’s because it’s an essential part of a balanced, productive life.

The whole point of this season is to unwind and spend quality time with ourselves and the people we love. But capitalism has flipped the script, flooding public spaces with ads and decorations earlier every year.

One of the best things you can do for yourself this holiday season is reclaim your rest and leisure time. Do it unapologetically, and without judgment.

If you want to spend your December break playing video games and watching TV instead of picking up a new healthy habit? Go for it. Come January, you’ll be glad you spent time doing things you enjoy before “real life” starts back up again.

🪅 Flocus Picks

A curated list of things worth sharing.

• How to Celebrate Tiny Wins (The Flow Archives) — ICYMI, here’s our deep dive on tiny wins from earlier this summer

• cozy winter reset (Video) — Throw on some comfy clothes and settle in for a 15-minute refresh with Haley, complete with journaling and brewing a warm bevvy

• soft sleepy lofi (Playlist) — A perfectly plush soundtrack for those soft, restful evenings

✨ Flocus: Your Personal Productivity Dashboard

December is the perfect time to slow down, reset, and reconnect with what matters, and Flocus gives you a calm home base to do it.

Use it to tidy your tasks for the end of the year, highlight what actually needs your energy, or create a cozy dashboard that makes winding down feel intentional.

New: Make any YouTube video your theme for a cozy animated dashboard! The options are endless. Available for all Flocus Plus members.

Go to Flocus

And that’s a wrap on our first holiday-themed newsletter! Stay tuned — next week, we’re sharing an EOY survival kit that’s sure to come in handy for work, school, home, and life.

What do you think about our holiday topics so far? We absolutely love reading your feedback, so keep it comin’!

Until next Sunday,

Flocus Team