| p>The end of a delicious feast is often marked by | | | | messages, and feeling the burden of the ones that |
| coffee, an after dinner drink, and a sweet dessert. | | | | haven't been yet answered from earlier in the week |
| Dessert time not only provides perfect closure to a | | | | (month or year!). In addition there's the weightiness of |
| memorable meal, but also assists digestion, aids | | | | hundreds of emails saved in various folders. Take the |
| assimilation, and creates space for good conversation. | | | | next few days and get a handle on your overflowing |
| End of the year reflection is like the "dessert" of the | | | | email. Answer any pertinent pending emails, delete |
| year. It is a perfect opportunity to assess significant | | | | everything you don't have to read, and unsubscribe |
| accomplishments, provide closure to the previous year, | | | | from newsletters that may no longer provide value to |
| and to prepare the ground for a new year ahead. It's | | | | your day. Take back control by deciding how much |
| also an important time to tie up loose ends, let go of | | | | time and energy you're willing to give to email. |
| things that no longer work, and sweep out old energies. | | | | Take Long Walks |
| This year, instead of just letting the final days of the | | | | Over the next several days give yourself some quality |
| year slip on by, treat yourself to "dessert" to digest | | | | alone time by taking long walks. During those outings |
| what you have learned, and feel the satisfaction of | | | | practice conscious deep breathing. Breathing helps |
| accomplishment and closure. | | | | dislodge old stuck energies and emotions. In addition, |
| Here are five ways to positively end the year: | | | | breathing relieves stress. As you begin to relax, be |
| Clean Up | | | | nourished by nature. Feel the wind on your checks, |
| Take these last few days of the year to bring | | | | listen to the birds signing, and breathe in the scents of |
| harmony and balance in your living and working | | | | the season. Breathing, relaxation, nature, and quality |
| environment. Walk around your personal spaces and | | | | alone time provide an opportune time to daydream |
| sense what's working and what's not. Open the | | | | about fun times, revel in giving your best to creative |
| drawers, step in the garage, look into all the nooks, | | | | endeavors, and being open to the beauty in life. When |
| crannies, and dark spaces. Intuitively, you know what's | | | | you feel good, you invite yourself to participate in more |
| calling to you. Follow that urge and straighten the liquor | | | | experiences that feel good. |
| cabinet, organize the garage, or vacuum the pet hair | | | | Love and Introspection |
| from the under the bed. Cleaning up can be a great | | | | The end of the year is the perfect time for self-love |
| way to remove old energies and allow new positive | | | | and self-evaluation. As you look back on the dreams, |
| flow. Take the next few days to put in order, sort out, | | | | goals, objectives, and projects you had planned for the |
| clean, or rearrange your space. Then breathe, relax, | | | | past year, take stock of where you actually are. Did |
| and revel in the new harmony! | | | | you allow your life to develop in meaningful way over |
| Let Go! | | | | the past year? Avoid the temptation of self-flagellation |
| The end of the year is a great time to let go of | | | | for goals that weren't met, and use the opportunity of |
| anything you no longer need or want. What may have | | | | reflection to assess what's still important. Be supportive |
| felt near and dear to you last year may no longer hold | | | | of yourself as you recognize what you achieved, what |
| the same feeling now. Go through your "stuff" and | | | | you learned about yourself, and the strengths that |
| throw out, give away, or donate clothes, furniture, | | | | developed over the past months. Love yourself for |
| kitchen gadgets, knick-knacks, or anything else that no | | | | who you are right now and love yourself for knowing |
| longer fits your personality. Just because Aunt Betty | | | | who you want to become more of. |
| once gave you that ceramic dog figurine for Christmas | | | | As the year winds down, stop and give yourself a |
| in 1987, doesn't mean that you have to keep it around | | | | good closure. Let yourself know that you have come |
| forever. Let go of what no longer feels energizing or | | | | to the end, summarize your achievements, and |
| uplifting. | | | | reinforce your commitment to a central idea. Follow |
| Manage Out of Control Email | | | | the tips above and know that there's no reason why |
| Feeling buried in your inbox? It's not uncommon to start | | | | this year can't have a perfectly fabulous ending! |
| the day by opening email, checking the 40-plus new | | | | |