We tend to overcomplicate the end of the year. We think we need long journal sessions, full-day planning retreats, or brand-new notebooks to “reset” for next year. But the truth is far simpler:
Your next 12 months can shift dramatically – with a 15-minute year-end ritual.
Fifteen minutes of honest reflection can sometimes give you more clarity than hours of goal-setting. Because this ritual cuts through the noise. It forces you to acknowledge what’s actually working in your life… and what’s quietly draining the joy, energy, and excitement from you.
I’ve used this exact year-end ritual for a few years now. And I can say, without exaggeration, that it has changed my life and business every single time. The results kept stacking:
Less stress. More peace. Fewer obligations. More income. More ease. More enjoyment – professionally and personally.
And the best part?
It really takes just 15 focused minutes.
I know, it worked for me. But, since I used it on myself successfully, I also recommended it to my friends and even to a few coaching clients.
They all got results. Because it works. If you are honest with yourself.
Let’s walk through the steps. Oh, and if you need help, you can always reach out to me via email for a coaching session!
Why 15 Minutes Can Shift the Next 12 Months
When you strip reflection down to its essentials – energy, clarity, and priorities – you no longer need complicated frameworks. You don’t need a 10-page worksheet or a long annual review. You only need to pause long enough to notice:
- What’s draining you
- What’s energizing you
- What’s worth carrying forward
- What’s worth releasing
This is the foundation of every powerful reset, every end-of-year reflection, and every genuinely aligned plan for the future.
When you get your energy right, your decisions become clearer.
When your priorities sharpen, your actions get cleaner and more effective.
That’s why this short ritual works so well: it removes the emotional clutter and brings you back to yourself quickly.
Step 1: Write Down the 3 Things That Drained You Most in 2025
This will be the hardest part for most people.
It certainly was for me.
Sometimes the things that drain us aren’t obvious. They’re not always negative, toxic, or dramatic. Often, the things that exhaust us are responsibilities we once cared deeply about – or still do.
For example:
One of the biggest drains for me was managing too many websites. And the surprising part? One of them was my first travel blog – something I loved, something that helped shape who I am professionally. But love doesn’t always mean alignment. Sometimes “good things” still drain your time, energy, creativity, and emotional space.
Acknowledging that was not easy.
It felt like admitting defeat.
But it was the most liberating thing I could have done.
And there were other drains too – habits, obligations, projects, and even expectations I placed on myself. It took a lot of honesty to write them down objectively. But the moment I did, everything became clearer: what had to change, what I had to release, and where I needed to create space.
So ask yourself honestly:
What were the three biggest energy drains in your 2025?
Think of:
- Tasks or responsibilities that felt heavy
- Commitments you kept out of guilt or habit
- Projects that consumed your time without giving meaningful returns
- People or situations that left you feeling depleted
- Work that required constant effort but brought little satisfaction
- Roles you outgrew but kept holding onto
Write them down. Don’t soften the truth. You don’t need to judge yourself (or others that may seem to impose these things on you) – just notice.
This one step alone is powerful. Many people stop here and already feel clearer.
Step 2: List the 3 Things That Energized You
Now for the fun part.
Just as important as noticing what drains you is noticing what lights you up.
What made you feel excited, alive, engaged, or simply at peace?
Energy tells you where your future wants to grow.
Sometimes these things seem small:
- A creative project you only did for fun
- A conversation that stayed with you in a good way
- A client or collaboration that felt effortless
- A moment of travel that reminded you what you love
- A business idea that kept resurfacing
- A habit that made you feel strong or centered
When you list what energized you, you might notice that these activities weren’t necessarily the ones that made you the most money or brought the most “results.” But they felt good. They expanded you. They aligned with your strengths and your natural flow.
Most people build their new year around goals.
Far fewer build their new year around energy.
But energy is what determines whether a goal thrives, burns you out, or never gets off the ground.
So take your time with this list.
Your future depends on it.
Step 3: Choose ONE Thing to Stop Doing Next Year
This is the step that can feel scary – but it’s also where transformation begins.
Choose one thing from your “drains” list that you commit to stop doing in 2026. Not everything. Just one.
When I started doing this ritual a few years ago, I didn’t realize how powerful this decision would be.
Letting go of just one draining activity created more relief than I ever expected. It opened space. It reduced stress. It gave me room for things I actually wanted to do. It reset my mindset. It boosted my confidence. It clarified my direction.
Just one “no” can change the entire trajectory of your year.
It doesn’t need to be the biggest thing. It just needs to be something that quietly steals energy and creates friction in your life.
When you remove one drain, you instantly regain:
- Time
- Mental bandwidth
- Creativity
- Motivation
- Emotional availability
- Clarity
This single decision often yields the biggest payoff.
For me, this step did wonders. It felt like taking a deep breath after holding it for too long. It shifted my business and my daily life. And it’s something I’ve repeated every year since.
So ask yourself:
What one thing will you stop doing in 2026?
Write it boldly. Circle it.
That’s your first act of alignment for the new year.
Step 4: Choose ONE Thing You’ll Double Down On
Now choose one energizing thing you’ll intentionally prioritize in 2026.
This is the step that amplifies your future.
It could be:
- A project you loved working on
- A client niche that feels effortless
- A creative practice that grounds you
- A platform that grew naturally
- A habit that shifted your mood or productivity
- A collaboration or partnership
- A type of content that performed well and felt good
- A new direction that keeps calling your name
When you double down on something that energizes you, momentum becomes easier than ever. Opportunities tend to show up. Ideas flow. Productivity increases. You find yourself taking aligned action almost automatically.
Think of this as your “compound interest” activity.
You invest more into it, and the return grows exponentially.
This is also where many people sabotage themselves – they try to double down on everything. Don’t. The power is in choosing just one thing.
One source of joy.
One source of alignment.
One source of natural energy.
That’s all you need.
Step 5: Create Your Future Snapshot – How You Want December 2026 to Feel
Now close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself at the end of 2026.
Picture a version of yourself who:
- Let go of something draining
- Prioritized something energizing
- Cleared space for what matters
- Stayed aligned with the best version of themself
- Worked with more clarity and less stress
- oyed life more intentionally
- Built momentum without burnout
What does this December 2026 version of you feel like?
Calm?
Proud?
Focused?
Financially stronger?
More spacious?
More joyful?
More grounded?
More confident?
More in control of your priorities?
More aligned with your values?
Write down your snapshot in a few sentences. Not goals – feelings.
This is your compass for the year ahead.
When your future self feels clear, your present self starts acting in alignment naturally.
Why This Ritual Works (And Why I’ve Kept It for Years)
I’ve practiced this year-end ritual for a few years now, and the results have been incredible and consistent:
- Less stress
- More peace
- More clarity
- More intentional choices
- Less unnecessary work
- More meaningful work
- Better alignment
- Higher income despite doing less
- More enjoyable activities, both in business and in life
This ritual works because it aligns your energy and priorities quickly – without complicated systems.
Most people start a new year repeating the same patterns because they never stop to evaluate:
- What drained them
- What fueled them
- What they want to release
- What they want to expand
- How they want to feel
This ritual forces clarity.
And once you have clarity, everything else becomes easier:
Decision-making.
Planning.
Goal-setting.
Boundaries.
Productivity.
Growth.
Quality of life.
Fifteen minutes.
One page.
Five steps.
A completely different year.
That’s the beauty of simple reflection – it doesn’t just help you plan your life… it helps you design your life.
A Simple, Powerful Way to Start 2026 Aligned
2026 doesn’t need to be complicated. You don’t need a huge vision board or a long list of resolutions you’ll forget in February.
You just need alignment. And, yes, I agree: alignment is overused. But, in this case, it is relevant as a notion.
This 15-minute ritual gives you:
- A clear place to start
- A clean break from what’s draining
- A focused direction for where to grow
- A deeper understanding of your energy
- A realistic, grounded vision for your future
- A simple yearly review you’ll actually stick with
If you take nothing else from this article, take this:
You’re one decision, one release, and one aligned priority away from a radically better year.
Your 2026 can feel lighter, more powerful, more joyful, and more aligned than any year before it. And it starts with just a few minutes of honest reflection.
So grab a notebook.
Set a timer for 15 minutes.
And begin.
Your future self is already thanking you.
