The final quarter of the year can arrive with a strange sense of urgency. Suddenly, there are only a few months left.
Things you hoped to do are still undone. Plans have changed. Life has happened. And it can be tempting to look at the remaining weeks as time you need to somehow catch up.
But what if you didn’t?
What if these final months were an opportunity to become more intentional about how you spend your time, what you give your energy to, and what you carry forward?
October to December can be a time to pause, take stock and choose what matters now. You might want to finish something important, look after yourself more consistently, reconnect with people you love, or make room for something you enjoy.
And before you start planning, give yourself a moment to acknowledge what this year has already asked of you. Some achievements never appear on a to-do list: getting through a difficult time, supporting someone, setting a boundary or beginning again.
Those things count too.
Start with how you want to feel
Before asking what you want to achieve, ask:
“How would I like the final months of this year to feel?”
Calmer? More connected? More purposeful? Less rushed? Perhaps you would like more energy, more enjoyment, or a little more space to breathe.
Let that answer guide your choices. If you want to feel calmer, a plan that fills every spare moment probably needs adjusting.
The following prompts can help you create a simple plan for October to December. You don’t need a goal in every section. Use the areas that matter to you and leave the others for another time.
1. Choose three things that matter
Ask yourself:
“What three things would I feel pleased to have done, started or made progress with by the end of December?”
Perhaps you want to finish a course, build a regular walking routine, save towards something important, apply for a new role, or take a trip you have been putting off.
Choose things that fit your life and your available energy. “Make a start” can be just as worthwhile as “finish”.
These are your three main priorities. The remaining prompts can help you work out how to support them.
2. Consider your health and wellbeing
“What would help me feel more rested, supported or energised?”
You might choose an earlier bedtime, more home-cooked meals, regular movement, or short pauses during a busy day.
Make the intention specific enough to act on. “Look after myself” might become “take a ten-minute walk at lunchtime” or “begin winding down half an hour earlier”.
Choose a starting point that feels manageable, even on a less energetic day.
3. Give your money some attention
“What would help me feel clearer or more organised about my money?”
Perhaps you want to check your spending once a week, cancel an unused subscription, put aside an affordable amount, or plan ahead for festive expenses.
You don’t have to solve everything before December. One useful step might simply be making time to understand where you are.
4. Reflect on work and career
“What would make me feel pleased with my working life by the end of the year?”
This could mean finishing a project, updating your CV, learning a useful skill, or having a conversation you have been avoiding.
It could also mean taking your lunch break, leaving work on time more often, or setting clearer boundaries around your availability.
Choose something that reflects what you need now.
5. Make room for life outside work
“What would I like more of before the year ends?”
Think about the things you actually enjoy: dinner with family, an unhurried conversation with a friend, time by the sea, a woodland walk, a hobby, or a proper day off.
It is easy to plan responsibilities and hope enjoyment will fit around them. Give the things that nourish you a place in your plans too.
Rest is a worthwhile use of your time.
6. Decide what you are ready to leave behind
“What is taking up time or energy that I would like to reclaim?”
Perhaps it is scrolling in bed, saying yes when you mean no, buying things you don’t need, or repeatedly putting off a small task.
Choose one pattern to begin with, then consider what could replace it.
Instead of “stop scrolling at night”, you might choose “leave my phone away from the bed and read a few pages”.
Instead of automatically saying yes, you could practise: “Let me check and come back to you.”
Give yourself a clear alternative to move towards.
7. Give each month a focus
You don’t have to work on everything at once.
For each month, complete these sentences:
- October: My main focus is… My next step is…
- November: My main focus is… My next step is…
- December: My main focus is… My next step is…
Allow for what you already know about your diary. A busy December may call for maintaining a helpful routine rather than beginning several new projects.
Leave some breathing space for life to happen.
8. Put the next steps in your calendar
An intention becomes easier to follow when you decide when to act on it.
For example:
- A lunchtime walk on Monday and Thursday.
- A spending check on Sunday morning.
- Half an hour to update your CV on Saturday.
- A date to contact a friend and arrange a catch-up.
Schedule the next useful action, and keep it realistic. If something needs moving, choose another time that works.
Your calendar should help you make room for what matters.
9. Begin with this week
Finally, ask:
“What is one small thing I can do in the next seven days?”
You could choose a step for your health, your money, your work, something you have been avoiding, or something purely for your enjoyment.
You don’t need to choose one from every category. One meaningful action is enough to begin.
You don’t have to live all three months today.
Keep coming back to what matters
Once a week, take a few minutes to revisit your plan.
What helped? What needs adjusting? Does this still matter to you? What is your next manageable step?
Notice the progress you have made, including the quieter changes: a boundary kept, a walk taken, a conversation had, a moment of rest you allowed yourself.
Ending the year with intention means making thoughtful choices with the time and energy you have. Some plans will change. Some things will remain unfinished. You can still reach December knowing you gave attention to what mattered.
What is one thing you would like to make more room for before the year ends, and what small step could you take this week?
Did you find this helpful? Read more about quitting new year’s resolutions
Katina Chapman Hypnotherapy Training – Accredited online and in-person hypnotherapy and hypnosis training throughout the UK. Learn live and interactively from anywhere, or join me in Norwich.
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Tags: Brain Hacks, hypnotherapy, thehappyhypnotist