The end of the year has a way of slowing us down. Clients wrap up projects, inboxes quieten, and we’re left with a little more space to think. For many of us, this pause comes with a familiar feeling: a mix of gratitude, exhaustion, and the hope that next year will feel steadier than this one.
This is also the moment when old productivity habits show up. The urge to “review everything,” push harder, or rush to map out the entire year ahead. But growth doesn’t come from pressure. It comes from clarity. This is the heart of the S.O.U.L. System—Simplify, Organise, Understand, Leverage. A way of working that supports ambition without slipping into burnout.
As you close out the year, here are three gentle questions to help you reset your energy and step into 2026 with intention.
1. What am I no longer willing to sacrifice for productivity?
Most of us were taught that productivity means doing more. Working faster. Filling every hour. Saying yes to every opportunity. The cost of that approach is usually invisible at first—sleep, energy, relationships, creativity.
But over time, it shows.
This question invites a different relationship with ambition. Instead of asking, “How can I get more done?” it asks, “What needs protecting so I can grow in a sustainable way?”
Maybe it’s your mornings. Your focus. Your boundaries with clients. Your weekends. Your nervous system.
This is the Simplify piece of the S.O.U.L. framework—removing what drains you, so what matters has space to grow.
A simple step:
Write down three things you are no longer willing to trade for work. Keep the list visible. Let it guide how you plan 2026.
2. Where did simple actions create the biggest impact this year?
High achievers often underestimate small actions. We think progress comes from major projects, big launches, or long hours. But if you look closely at your year, you’ll find that the biggest shifts often came from actions that felt… simple.
A quiet boundary. A shorter to-do list. A single habit you stuck with. A conversation that brought clarity. A decision to stop something that wasn’t working.
This question helps you “Understand” the real drivers of your growth so you can take them with you into the new year.
Try this reflection:
- Which small choices made your work smoother?
- Which tasks or habits created momentum?
- Where did you see ease, not friction?
Simplicity doesn’t reduce your ambition. It strengthens it.
3. How do I want my work to feel in 2026?
Most planning focuses on goals, revenue, launches, and metrics. Those matters. But the emotional experience behind your work is what sustains you.
Do you want your work to feel calm? Spacious? Focused? Creative? Connected?
When you name the feeling, the strategy becomes clearer.
If you want clarity, you’ll organise differently.
If you want ease, you’ll leverage systems or support.
If you want purpose, you’ll design your goals around meaning, not pressure.
This is the heart of the Organise and Leverage pillars—structuring your time and resources in a way that aligns with the way you want to live.
Your intention becomes a filter for decisions all year long.
A simple year-end ritual (30 minutes)
Here is a gentle practice you can do with a notebook and a cup of tea:
Step 1 (5 minutes): Write down what you are releasing.
Everything that felt heavy, rushed, or misaligned.
Step 2 (10 minutes): Note the simple actions that created the most progress.
These are the habits worth carrying forward.
Step 3 (10 minutes): Choose one word for 2026.
A guiding feeling. A theme. A direction.
Step 4 (5 minutes): Close the ritual by writing one small action you can take in January that honours your word.
This ritual helps you close the year with intention, not pressure—aligned with your natural rhythm rather than the old “work harder” mindset.
Stepping Into 2026 With S.O.U.L.
The year-end pause is an invitation to return to yourself. The S.O.U.L. System offers a simple structure for that return:
- Simplify what pulls you away from what matters.
- Organise your time so you have space for growth.
- Understand your real priorities.
- Leverage your strengths and support so you don’t carry everything alone.
When you enter the new year with clarity, your productivity becomes joyful, not draining.
Before you go… I’d love to hear from you
Hit reply and share one word that captures how you want 2026 to feel.
I read every response, and these reflections help shape the resources I create for you.
Here’s to a year that feels purposeful, grounded and spacious.
