Feeling like the year is “over”? Here’s how to make December count

As November wraps up and we transition from turkeys to Christmas trees, many of us slip into the feeling that the year is already “over.” But it isn’t. And it doesn’t have to be.

For me, November is always a special month. It’s my birthday, and it’s also my favourite holiday of the year; Thanksgiving. Gratitude has shaped so much of who I am, both personally and in my work.

And because my birthday often falls on Thanksgiving, it has become a beautiful ritual: the candles I blow out are wishes for others, for my friendships, for longevity, and for the quiet beauty of getting wiser, and appreciating another day alive.

The urgency begins when November ends

But as November ends, I simultaneously often feel that familiar urgency – the sense that the year is closing in, that I have to sprint until December 31st, that there’s no point starting anything new.

This year, on the morning of December 1st, I decided to shift that story.

Reclaiming the first 21 days of December

Instead of feeling like the month is slipping away, I reminded myself that there are three full weeks before my holiday begin. Twenty-one days – enough time to do a lot. Enough time to feel intentional rather than overwhelmed.

So I set two goals:

• One personal – to be mindful of how I’m eating, not in a restrictive way, but so that I can feel my best by the time my real holiday begins after December 20th.
• One professional – to prepare for January 2026 in a way that sets me up with clarity instead of chaos as the new year begins.

This didn’t feel like pressure; it felt liberating. It reminded me that three weeks is plenty of time. That

December doesn’t have to be written off just because it’s festive. That being intentional with my energy, my schedule, and my boundaries is a form of self-respect.

The joy and emotional weight of December

Because yes, this time of year is filled with joy, feasting, friends, and so many things to celebrate. But it can also be lonely, stressful, and emotionally heavy. It’s easy to feel like you haven’t done enough.

The year closing in on you, and the awareness that perhaps you haven’t done all you wanted can feel overwhelming.

A gentle December reset: Simple promises to yourself

So before you slip into holiday mode, or feel like you want to give up – here’s what I want you to know:

• Show up for the things you truly want to show up for
• Eat and enjoy the moments that matter – without guilt
• Make a short list of boundaries that protect your mental and physical health
• Pick one personal and one professional goal you can comfortably achieve before the year end
  Remember that a few weeks is a long time – long enough to make meaningful change

Ending the year with purpose, not pressure

Take a small pause this week to reflect before you rush off on holiday. Think about how you want to show up – for yourself, your work, your friendships, or your family, and step into December with intention instead of exhaustion.

Look over your shoulder and give thanks for November. Then look straight ahead at December with clarity, purpose, and a little self-trust. When you do, you’ll end the year feeling grounded and content – and start 2026 on exactly the right foot.

Shireena Shroff Manchharam is a Her World Tribe member, the founder and principal consultant of Sheens Consulting, and the founder and creator of Getting To Happy, a mental health movement to inspire our community and society to live happier, more mindful lives.