December is the time of year when we reflect on what we have done or accomplished in the last 12 months. It’s an ending of sorts. Just like the shortest day of the year, it’s a closing or darkness and then you have to start opening up again and reaching for new light.
The shortest day of the year is called Winter Solstice. According to National Geographic, “The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth has tilted the farthest away from the sun. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the exact same second around the world. Because less sunlight reaches Earth, the winter solstice is also the day of the year with the least amount of daytime, known as the shortest day of the year.”
For those like me that love the feeling of a fresh start and a new, blank calendar to fill in, it’s pretty exciting.
The shortest day of the year falls on December 21st, and I love that it is before the holidays. When you can close out the current year and prepare for the next before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you are able to truly enjoy the last week and a half.
Are you prepared to close out 2022?
How to Close Out The Year
The energy of the winter months is to go within. The temperatures and precipitation cause us to hibernate a bit. A great time to reflect.
Take some time to answer these questions:
- What was the biggest challenge you overcame in 2022?
- What were you doing when you were the happiest?
- Did you like your daily routines in 2022? What would you change?
- What new skills, talents, or passions did you acquire in 2022?
- What goal have you still not accomplished? How can you change that in 2023?
- Who were the people that brought you the most joy? Who made you anxious?
- What are you still afraid to do?
If you did a similar exercise last year, are there goals that you achieved? Write those down and celebrate!
Offer a quick prayer or affirmation to show how grateful you are to be here to be able to reflect on another year and prepare for the next.
How can you either honor this year or bid good riddance?
Use the shortest day of the year to close it out. As the days slowly get longer and brighter, ease into the new year with a fresh perspective.
How to Prepare for the New Year
Start by setting an intention. When you visualize the new year, what does it look like? Write that down and then set goals on how to make that a reality.
Here is a few journal prompts to help you: (Taken from 20 Journal Prompts for Setting and Activating Your Goals)
- What do you want? Who can help you get there? What steps can you start taking today?
- If money didn’t matter, what would you continue to do? Do you love your job? house? clothes? social life? adventures? What do you need to do to make you love them?
- How do you talk to yourself? Are you critical in any areas? If you call yourself dumb, fat, lazy, broke, or unlovable, what affirmations can you use to change that?
- What qualities and talents come effortlessly to you? How can you use those talents more positively? What are you really good at? What do people compliment you about?
- When you meditate, what is the Universe telling you? What signs are you ignoring? What keeps popping up in your life?
- What is something you would love to do but have been too afraid to try? Why are you afraid? What would happen if you didn’t care about your fears and just took action?
Start to brainstorm your new goals for the year. When do you have time to work on them? Write that down in your calendar and stick to your plan.
As the days get longer and the sun gets warmer, use that energy to put some excitement into your life. What new things can you try?
Offer a prayer to the Universe to guide you and to help you be aware of the guidance they bring.
As I get older, I am losing my fear and am more willing to do some things that take me out of my comfort zone. I mean, why not? Life is short and we might as well have fun while we are here!
So, what will you do on the shortest day of the year? I feel like the summer solstice gets more of the limelight, but the winter solstice actually starts the path to brighter days.
So, cheers to closing out this year, enjoying a week and a half, and then starting the new year fresh! How exciting!
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