Ever feel pressured to “finish the year strong” while you’re already running on empty? In this episode, I’m challenging that narrative and sharing why finishing steady might be exactly what you need this December.

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Why “Finish Steady” Beats “Finish Strong”

Here’s what I’ve noticed: December naturally invites us to slow down. It’s quieter, more reflective. Yet everywhere we look, we’re told to push harder, hustle more, squeeze out every last drop of productivity before the holidays.

But what if that approach is working against you? Instead of fighting December’s natural rhythm, what if you worked with it? There’s no prize for sprinting across December 31st, and there’s definitely no gold star for ending the year exhausted.

The Problem with Most Year-End Reflection Guides

Most self-reflection journals get it wrong. They jump straight to goal setting, more intentions, more habits, more things on your already overflowing list. It feels productive, but here’s the truth: you cannot pour into a cup that’s already full. You just make a mess.

Most of us don’t need more goals. We need less. Less noise, less obligations, less of the stuff that’s quietly making everything harder.

A Different Approach: Subtraction Before Addition

That’s why I created “Clear the Noise,” a free year-end reflection guide built on a simple philosophy: subtraction before addition.

It walks you through four parts: discovering what actually worked this year (not what looked good on LinkedIn, but what genuinely felt good), identifying what’s draining you, deciding what needs to go, and only then designing what’s next. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes over a cuppa, and it’s designed for the real you, not some fantasy version who wakes at 5am and meal preps every Sunday.

Three Key Takeaways

1️⃣ You have permission to finish steady. If sprinting feels wrong right now, trust that. Your energy levels are valid.

2️⃣ Clear before you add. Before setting new goals, declutter what’s no longer serving you. Make space first.

3️⃣ Reflection is about noticing, not fixing. The person you are today is different from who you were 12 months ago, and that matters, even if no one else sees it.

Resources Mentioned

Clear the Noise Guide – Free year-end reflection guide with 12 questions across 4 sections.

➡️ Grab it at unwritten.coach/reflect

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