How to Prepare for a New Year

How are we feeling, friends?! There are just a few days left until Christmas, then that glorious stretch between Christmas and New Year's, and then 2026 is upon us. Like you, I'm still very much in holiday mode, but if you also have an eye toward the year ahead, today's post is for you.

While it's true that there's nothing magical about January 1st, I'll be the first to admit that there IS something energizing and hopeful about it. We can use that fresh start energy to our advantage, preparing for the new year in a way that will bring delight, rest, and relationship all year long. So, as you gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, indulge in good food, and enjoy beloved traditions over the next few days, plan to set aside a few moments to prepare for the new year, too.

We've gathered a few categories you might want to consider, but make them your own! Some are serious, some are just for fun, but all will help you create a year you'll be so grateful to have lived by the end of it. There's no one-size-fits-all recipe for a cultivated life - you get to decide what stays, what goes, and what (as we like to say) really matters. Let's do it!

1. Reflect on the past year.

While it's tempting to prepare for a new year by looking ahead, there are rewards waiting for you in the past. You'll gain wisdom and make better decisions about how to use your time and energy in the year ahead when you look back at where you've been -- whether it was good, hard, or a mixture of both. A few questions to consider asking and answering:

• What went well, and what helped you to live on purpose?
• What didn't work well? What was a struggle? What was hard or took extra effort?
• Big or small, what did the good and the challenging from this past year teach you?
• Who or what helped you live on purpose in the last year? 
• What wins can you celebrate?

Reflection reaps rewards because it helps us to notice change, which day-to-day might not seem that impressive but adds up over time. This is important, because one of the biggest drivers that will keep us moving forward in this new year is recognizing that we are people who can change. We can, we have, and we will improve and make progress!

And don't skip that last question -- when you remember that you've succeeded in the past, you're less likely to give up when things get tough or progress seems slow. Celebrating your successes builds confidence and instills gratitude, so spend some time by yourself or with people you love, counting the fruit from the past year. Cook or order in a favorite meal to make it a party!

Are you a PowerSheets® or Fresh Start user? This exercise is in your goal planner! 

2. Choose a few goals for the season ahead. 

Setting a goal means admitting that there is something you want to change about your life or even yourself—that there is something you wish could be better, that there is something that's not as it should be.

And that feels uncomfortable in today's culture, right? We hear "you're great just the way you are" and "love yourself" and "ignore the naysayers" and "just keep things simple." And we at Cultivate agree with all those things—absolutely! But take one quick look around and it's easy to see that our lives are not yet perfect. Things are not as they should be. Most of us could easily point to some area of our life—our relationships, our finances, our businesses, our health—where we hope for something better.

That's healthy! That's good! As people, we're meant to always be learning and growing and making small improvements along the way and creating more good out of what we've been given. And that's where goals come in.

Here at Cultivate, a goal is an actionable, achievable plan that moves you from where you are to where you want to be. Cultivated goals are life-giving, joyful, deeply satisfying—and there's absolutely no perfection required. 

So yes, we believe setting goals is an essential part of living a purposeful life—but you get to decide what, exactly, that looks like. Will you plan for and tend to your goals in the PowerSheets goal planner? Will you write out a short list of three habits you'll focus on? Will you take on an intimidating project, found a new business, or put a precious part of you out into the world? We can't wait to see. 

Whatever you choose, set some goals for 2026. You won't complete them perfectly (it's not possible!), but we can guarantee you'll be farther along the path toward who you hope to be than if you had not. 

3. List memories you want to make.

Part of the reason we constrain our list of goals is so that we have time to make memories doing what we love and/or with people we love! Life feels richer and more memorable when each season feels distinctive, so choose a few experiences to indulge in over the next year. We recommend sketching this out over all twelve months here at the start (your PowerSheets have a spread for this!) so that you can see which seasons might be a little too full—and which might be ripe for a little excitement.

As you do, remember that experiences don't have to be grand to be memorable. A few years ago, my family threw a little dinner party (for the five of us) to celebrate the release of a new Octonauts movie. This consisted of blue jello, blue and green streamers down the center of the table, frozen pizza cut into fish shapes, and watching the movie together. This was five years ago, and our oldest (who was four at the time) STILL talks about it.

4. Set a rhythm of reflection.

To achieve goals and live a life that reflects what matters most in each season, noticing with intention—and making small changes based on what you notice—is a must. On a regular basis, we must find a way to ask ourselves what adjustments could make life happier, healthier, more productive, or more filled with purpose. What do we want less of? What do we want more of?

All of our planners (PowerSheets, Fresh Start, Season by Season) have reflection built in on a weekly, monthly, and/or yearly basis, but if you don't have any of those, this could be as simple as setting a phone reminder on the first of each and committing to a five-minute journaling session. Or sitting down with your Brain Dump journal each week. Reflection reaps rewards!

You might also love this blog post: How to Live Out Your Yeses and Nos

5. Schedule what matters most.

Are there activities that fill you up, connect to your goals, and make you come alive, but that aren't on a set rhythm? Is there a family vacation that's beloved but always requires careful planning? Is camping with friends something you'd love to do but it never seems to happen? Get these things on your calendar right at the beginning of the year!

Make a list (brainstorm with a partner, family member, or friend, if you'd like) and then spend some time plotting them out before your calendar fills up. Even if you need to put in placeholders for some (maybe you know you want to invite a family over for dinner, but don't know who it will be yet), a little bit of advance planning will pay dividends all year.

Choose what matters most to you, but here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

• Date night
• Book club
• Having a friend, couple or family over to dinner
• Going out with friends
• Hike
• Workout classes, long bike rides, or runs
• Kayaking or paddle boarding 
• Rest
• Trip to a museum where you have a membership
• Day trip adventure
• One-on-one time with kids

How do you prepare for a new year, friends? We'd love to hear! And once you've set a solid foundation, don't miss how to prepare well for a new season and how to start a new month well.