How to Close Out the Year Strong (Without Burning Out)
By Lynette Newman
Good news: you can close out the year strong without dragging yourself across the finish line in fuzzy socks and pure exhaustion. The secret? Strategic wrap-up, smart delegation, and a little backend magic.
Step 1: Stop Trying to Do Everything Before the New Year
December is not the month to:
👉🏽Reinvent your systems
👉🏽Launch a massive new initiative
👉🏽Finally become a “morning person”
Instead, focus on completion, not perfection. Ask yourself:
“What actually needs to be finished before I log off for the holidays?”
Step 2: Do a Quick End-of-Year Sweep (15–30 Minutes Max)
Set a timer and tackle just the essentials:
👉🏽Flag or close open email loops
👉🏽Note any loose client deliverables
👉🏽Brain-dump ideas you don’t want to forget
👉🏽Identify tasks that can be delegated immediately
Step 3: Delegate Like a Holiday Pro
December is the perfect time to delegate because:
👉🏽Your energy is limited
👉🏽Your attention is split
👉🏽Your time off should actually feel like time off
👉🏽Inbox and calendar management
👉🏽Client follow-ups
👉🏽CRM updates and cleanup
👉🏽Scheduling January calls
👉🏽Organizing documents and processes
👉🏽Creating a January-ready task list
Step 4: Set Your Future Self Up for a Calm January
Before you officially sign off for the year, do these three things:
👉🏽Decide what won’t be worked on until January
👉🏽Identify your top three priorities for the new year
👉🏽Delegate the prep work now
There’s no prize for starting January overwhelmed—but there is a huge payoff for starting clear, rested, and organized.
Step 5: Give Yourself the Real Gift—Time
Closing out the year strong doesn’t mean squeezing in more work. It means making smart decisions that allow your business to run without everything resting on your shoulders.
At Help On Deck, we believe your business should support your life—not hijack the holidays.
So go ahead. Delegate. Log off. Sip the cocoa.