Year end business rituals

---

Every year, my mum promised me that next year would be better.

While I loved her optimism, ability to always have hope, and generally positive outlook, I secretly felt bitterness toward her when, inevitably, the next year was not my best year ever. In fact, it got harder and harder as my childhood years went by.

You see, I'm not an optimist.

Nor a pessimist (in case that was the vibe this intro was giving).

I think, deep down, at the heart of it all, I'm a realist (who believes in magic too).

That is why I think next year could go either way. It could be my best year yet, or it could be the worst, but either way, I know I'll be okay.

The year will likely be filled with ups and downs, joy, and heartache. I will feel like I have finally figured things out, only to realise I need to start all over again.

That is life; it's cyclical.

There is no race to a metaphorical finish line, no ladder to climb, no best year ever, just another cycle in the story of my life (and business).

Something about that feels really comforting.

This is why I like to take a grounded approach this time of the year.

Instead of falling for the "new year, new me" rhetoric or the idea that I could change my life in 90 days with careful goal setting, I like to use this time of year to rest and turn inwards.

I have had an aversion to New Year's resolutions for a couple of years, but I do believe in approaching my new year with intention. I want to focus less on specific outcomes and more on how I plan to direct my energy and time for the new year.

I will not have a set-it-and-forget-it mindset, but I will keep checking in with my intentions and see how they can adjust and evolve over the next year.

But for me, those intentions will only be set in the spring. So if you were expecting this ritual to be about setting ambitious goals for next year, spoiler alert: it's not.

Instead, I like to use the end of the year and the first little bit of the new year to rest and dream. I want to create a cosy time in my business where I can reconnect with my purpose and myself. I want to reflect on everything this past cycle has taught me, what I am leaving behind, and what I am bringing with me into the new year.

To honour and sink into this liminal space that winter offers instead of trying to avoid it or take control. It's a sacred pause that invites you to turn inwards, find time for deep rest, and prepare for new growth (personally and in your business).

While it might not seem like much is happening in my business to the outside world, I know that there is a deep transformation happening beneath the surface.

I have many rituals for this time of year, but I wanted to share some of the things I do in December to honour the start of the winter season in my business.

I do these things slowly and over time, there is never any rush or pressure to get things done. Some years I might do all of these things, others I might honour the need for rest above all else, so please remember to take what you need and ignore the rest 🖤

Part one - creating a space for rest and reflection

Finding time to rest during this time of year can be challenging. Whether you have a seasonal business and this is one of your busiest times of year, or you have lots of holiday gatherings to attend, it can feel impossible to find time for rest.

As an introvert, I find myself slowly creating more and more space to rest and retreat inwards at this time of year, but this isn't always possible or desirable for everyone.

A couple of years ago, I was really inspired by

Beth Kempton's Calm Christmas Substack

. I completely re-imagined what I wanted this time of year to look like, and it changed my approach to the holidays and how I spend the end of the year. You can do the same.

How do you want to re-imagine December in your business?

For me, it looks like a slow winddown of activities. This means I take to my calendar (usually in October) and start to block out large chunks of time, seeing what needs to be done and what can wait until the new year.

Creating a little bit of wiggle room to wrap up any client projects that are still lingering from November, but prioritising making space to spend my days doing more inner work and reflecting on certain areas of my business.

Before taking a complete break from everything business-related.

I spend time with my family, do the rituals and traditions that bring me joy, and stay in my PJs most days.

December means very little marketing.

No fighting to squeeze in one more project before the year ends.

And going offline, to avoid all the holiday messaging.

This wasn't always my experience.

My December looked like working till the last possible minute, scrambling to get finished, working till late in the evening and ending the year with a horrible cold (my body's polite fuck you), and trying to shop my way into feeling better.

If this sounds like you, this isn't to guilt or shame you. But to show you another way you could approach the end of the year in your business to invite a little more calm and rest into your December.

It could be deciding to push a couple of projects or deadlines into the new year. To not feel the pressure of having everything wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow for the year's end, and instead choosing to honour your need to rest.

Maybe it's starting small by simply recognising your desire for rest in the first place or saying no to a client's request to get something done before the end of the year.

Maybe it's creating a work cut-off date and honouring it, or setting an out-of-office email with the intention of truly disconnecting from work for a couple of days (not secretly checking in on your email while in the loo of a family gathering—maybe that was just me).

It could be blocking off a few days in your calendar to rest or reflect, saying no to a party you don't want to go to, or being honest with a client that you'll be a little late with their work because you have overcommitted.

It could be a promise to build more space for rest next December and reshape your business to make that possible.

Whether you have the whole month, a week, a day, or even an hour, to rest and reflect, mark it out on your calendar. With a promise to honour that time.

Part two - a business audit and reflection

I love doing a deep dive into all parts of my business at this time of year. Seeing what worked well, what is no longer serving me or my business, and how I can let go and move forward with intention.

Depending on my December, I might save this for the new year or break it down into smaller sessions throughout the winter.

I want to take my time with this ritual. I like to create a warm, cosy, and safe space to reflect, so I can do this through the lens of love and self-compassion. In the past, I avoided auditing my business because I was afraid of facing uncomfortable truths, which would make me really critical of myself or feel disappointed.

But now, I focus on curiosity rather than judgement, making this process feel gentle and restorative. It gives me the space to reflect on and learn from the past year.

My full process is in Notion, but I thought I would share a couple of journal prompts you can work through for each area of your business.

Finance & abundance:

• What financial wins am I celebrating this year (no matter how big or small)?

• Which revenue streams brought me joy and ease, and which felt draining or misaligned?

• How can I invite more clarity and ease into managing my finances next year?

Marketing & connection

• Which marketing activities felt the most joyful and authentic this year?

• How did my messaging evolve, and does it align with my values and vision?

• What type of content resonated most with my audience, and how can I expand and go deeper into the new year?

Systems & Operations

• Which systems or tools felt the most supportive in my business this year?

• Can I simplify, delegate, or automate any workflows or processes?

• What boundaries helped me stay aligned this year, and where do I need to adjust?

Offerings & service

• Which of my offerings, packages, or services felt most aligned and brought me joy

• What feedback or insights from clients can I use to refine my offerings?

• Are there any services, offerings, or packages I have outgrown and feel ready to let go of?

Energy & Wellbeing

• How did I feel in my business this year? Energised, stretched, balanced?

• Are there any specific habits, rituals, or boundaries that supported my energy this year?

• What drained my energy, and can I notice any patterns that resulted in overwork or stress?

Clients & community

• Which client relationships or projects felt most fulfilling and aligned with my values and vision?

• How did I show gratitude and care for my clients and community this year?

• What boundaries with clients helped me reclaim my time & energy?

I love doing an audit like this because it helps you reconnect with your business and identify what you need to refine or reshape in the new year.

I don't judge myself or see this as a way of beating myself up for not having done enough, but rather to see how I can continue to shape my business to support my desires and energy.

Part three - creating a pause and giving thanks

No matter how busy my December has been, I have always made space to do two things.

The first is creating a moment of pause.

Some years, this has looked like a few days or a week; more recently, it has become almost an entire month. However, I like to create a pause where I stop all business activities and just create a space for rest and relaxation.

I switch on my OOO and completely check out of my business. This was hard the first few years, as business thoughts would creep their way into my happiest times, but now I find it really easy to create the peaceful space I need to truly recharge.

Here are some journal prompts and ideas on how you can pause and truly enjoy the holiday season:

• What emotions come up when thinking about taking a break from your business?

It could be fear or guilt. It could feel impossible or like a giant weight has been lifted off your shoulders. What does this tell you about your relationship with your business?

• What would it look like if you fully disconnected from work for the holidays?

Describe what this time off might look and feel like? What Activities or moments would you fully immerse yourself in, and what would you need to set up beforehand to make this possible?

• In the past, how has your business interrupted your peace or joy?

Like me, you may have a habit of looking for a crisis in your inbox or have thoughts that pull you away from being present in the moment. How could you minimise these, or at least create awareness or ground yourself during these moments?

• What boundaries do you need to set to protect your time off?

Think about the things you can do to honour your time for rest. This could look like turning off notifications, setting boundaries around your social media, or setting up some automation so you can relax without feeling like your business needs your constant attention.

• What rituals or practices can you put into place to signal to your mind and body that it's time to rest?

This might look like switching your phone off. Maybe you're a photographer, so packing away your camera might be a signal to rest (and telling your family that they are responsible for capturing memories; you are taking a break and being present in them instead). For me, it's spending time in my PJs, removing apps from my phone, and switching off my computer until the new year.

• How can I show compassion if I start feeling anxious or guilty about not working?

It's totally normal that pangs of anxiety or guilt might come up to the surface, we have been conditioned to be productive and switched on all the time. What little reminder or grounding practice can you set up for yourself if this happens.

• And lastly, what needs to be released, let go of, or left unfinished to step away fully?

Most likely, some things will spill over into the new year. I normally have grand plans for everything I can get done before the end of the year. It's tempting to think that you need to finish all of these things before you can fully relax. But most of the time, you can let it go, knowing that you'll return to these things in the new year with fresh energy.

The second thing is showing gratitude.

From my clients to the people who have been a part of my business journey, like my coach, my family, and the people I have worked with, I love nothing more than taking a bit of time at the end of the year to acknowledge people's support in my business.

In some seasons, this might involve giving thoughtful gifts, sending a holiday card, or sending a quick message/email to say thanks.

It could also involve doing a Google review or highlighting the value someone has added to your business.

It could involve giving back to the communities you are a part of or making a small donation to the causes you support in your business.

These small gestures build stronger relationships and fill you with joy, knowing you made the people closest to your business feel valued and appreciated.

Part three - creating a vision board for your business

I love a vision board!! I think it's because I am a very visual person. I love to use winter to create a vision board filled with the energy or essence I want to embody for the next cycle in my business (starting in spring).

I used to create a vision board filled with everything I wanted/wanted to achieve, but I felt pressured or disappointed if my manifestations didn't appear on my desired timeline.

That is why I prefer to create a vision board focused on the experience and feeling I want to create instead of the more tangible things I want to bring into my world.

For example, when I was trying to save up to buy our first home in the UK, I was less obsessed with the actual home and more with the feeling of home.

I would pin cosy interiors, pictures of sitting around a dinner table, or quotes about feeling at home, security or belonging. I would pin how I would fill my time in that home, going for countryside walks, and having an office space that felt cosy.

By pinning those images, I could see the feeling or experience I was craving and how I could already start to feel those feelings now. To embody the energy of what being in that home would feel like rather than the home itself.

This helped me experience more joy while working to save up and keep me aligned with the purpose of what I was working towards.

Instead of creating vision boards that are focused on the outcome or the end goal and feeling bitterness or resentment that I don't have what I desire, I create vision boards that help me invite that energy and essence into my business and life from the start.

I add to this vision board slowly, keeping an open mind for new things to emerge. I look for patterns and themes, noticing where I feel inspired or where some limiting beliefs might be coming to the surface. I check in and reflect on this vision board throughout the year, taking things off that no longer feel in alignment or were influenced by something outside of my vision and purpose.

I usually have a vision board on Pinterest for the winter months, where I reflect and fine-tune, dreaming without getting stuck on the how or when.

When I feel ready, I will create my final vision board, with a few images representing the feeling or essence I am bringing into the next cycle. I usually pair this with my word of the year, which seems to reveal itself through the vision board process.

Part four - Wishes, dreams, and letting go to make space.

Many of my business rituals are tied to my personal rituals. On the winter solstice, my family and I enjoy a Yule celebration and feast.

We bake sun bread to celebrate the return of the light and write down wishes on little clay stars that we make together and hang on our tree. (We like to keep these with all the decorations and look at them one year later, smiling to see which ones came true.)

At the end of the evening, we write down all the things we are letting go of and burn them with our yule log outside. We stare up at the stars and feel grateful for everything we have.

I love this ritual; it has become one of our most sacred and favourite days of the year.

If this resonates with you, think about ways to incorporate magic into your end-of-year ritual.

Or you could do something simpler, like writing a heartfelt letter to your business expressing your wish as if it were already happening. You could seal it and open it up this time next year or burn it to release your wishes into the universe.

You could also light a candle or make a wish jar specifically for your business (or just in general).

There are so many ways to dream and create hope for the next year, which is especially important in the darker months if you are going through a slow or tough season.

Most importantly, I don't rush or try to get everything done and wrapped up in a neat little bow by the first of January.

There can be a collective pressure to know exactly where you are heading as soon as January hits. But there is no magical reset button that hits on January the first. Change or transformation is a much slower transition.

This time of year invites you to cosy up and take your time while resting and reflecting. Personally, I love to romanticise those moments, going all out to set the scene and really enjoy the process (think a journal session with hot chocolate with all the trimmings) or a day of rest in snuggly PJ's, on a Christmas bed, with a big bowl of popcorn.

However you choose to spend December, I hope this has helped you see that by giving yourself the space and time to dream, rest, and reflect, you will also give yourself the time to notice patterns, refine your desires, and align your vision with what truly feels authentic to you.

The last thing any of us needs is more pressure to achieve and force ourselves into action. What we really need is the time and space to slow down and let our vision for the new year slowly unfold, to rest, and to prepare for the next cycle of growth and learning.

Wishing you a slow and magical December ✨

---

I would love to hear your thoughts?

• Do you have any rituals for this time of year in your business?

• What does the end of the year feel like for you?

• Is there anything from this post you would like to try?

P.S. If we don’t know each other, I’m Stacey. An (anti) productivity guide & business manager, helping deeply feeling photographers & solopreneurs reshape their businesses so you can go from feeling stuck and drained to knowing how to manage your business and energy in a way that supports you! If you want to learn more about my 1:1 work, click here.

P.P.S. Thanks so much for reading - If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with a friend who will love it too!

And if you are the friend, Hi 👋. Welcome to my cosy little corner on the internet; I’m so glad you’re here! I hope you will join me as I pull back the curtain on my own business to share the rituals and restorative remedies I create to recover from burnout (and find pleasure and joy in the every day of running a small business). I hope these posts bring some inspiration (and maybe even magic) to your day! Make yourself at home!

P.P.PS. Want me to create a ritual for you? Feeling stuck and want my insights? Feel free to pop me an email, sometimes I feel like I'm whispering into the void (I promise if you reply, I will personally respond to you) - so please whisper back!

And if you are looking for a potent does of insight for your business, consider exploring the Clarity Elixir.

Take Care,