Ugly sweater parties, happy hours with more cookies than beers on tap, and celebrations with family and friends arguably make December the most fun-filled time of the year. But beyond the festivity and holiday traditions, if you’re anything like me, you can barely wait for the days between Christmas and the start of the new year – those few precious days when you can detox from information overload and prepare to return, refreshed and ready to go, for the launch of another revolution around the sun.

Everyone has his or her own strategies; here are a few of mine.

Reflect

There’s that saying about people who don’t study history being destined to repeat it, and I think that applies in our personal and professional lives as well. To ensure that I am constantly improving my game, I take time to build a plan at the end of December that takes into account the key things I’ve learned over the past year.

I find the best approach to reflect on how I want to improve in the new year is to start with some higher level buckets, ask myself a series of questions and start sketching a list of goals.

Mind

What did I learn over the last year that I can leverage in the new one? In what areas do I feel I could use a mental challenge? This typically includes books I want to read or courses I want to take. For me, many of these goals are business focused, but I also like to include stretching my knowledge in hobbies, such as learning about wine.

Body

Did I meet my physical goals over the past 12 months and in what ways do I want to improve physically this year? As a busy ex-athlete who struggles to find time to workout, this one always weighs on me. This past year, I adopted the use of apps, such as 7 Minute Workout, to help me keep up with my physical goals. If I complete three rounds on the 7-minute app, I get a good, solid workout in about 20 minutes.

Spirit

Did I make choices over the last year that moved me toward the inner contentment and peace I want in my life? In what ways do I feel driven to grow spiritually going forward? For me this list typically comes down to exploring world religions, cultures, philosophies and science outside my normal sphere of influence. This year, I also included using a mindfulness app called Calm and practicing meditation as a daily ritual in this category.

Financial

Am I tracking financially with my annual and long term plans? What are my financial objectives for the upcoming year? In full disclosure, being married to my financial advisor makes my annual financial planning easy. 🙂 Still, I think it’s important for all adults, regardless of age and career track, to articulate their short- and long-term personal financial goals.

Career

Am I happy with where I am in my career? Can I clearly state why I have chosen this path? What could I accomplish this year that would make me feel happier or more successful? I find that asking myself these questions and feeling secure in my answers is the key to keeping a clear head when confronted with professional challenges. It also increases gratitude for the the team around me and the opportunities ahead of us.

Relationships

Am I proud of the spouse, friend, sister, leader and community member that I have been this year? Living a busy lifestyle means constantly making decisions regarding how to prioritize my time. It’s nearly impossible to feel like I’m not making some concessions on the relationship front. With that, I like to reflect on my relationships over the past year and ask myself in what ways I can improve them.

Refresh

Beyond reflection, taking a step back and setting your mind free to unwind and detox is not only refreshing, it’s critical to productivity. Here are some ways I make sure I’m ready to hit the ground running at the start of the new year.

Coloring Books

It’s funny; I’ve always told people that I love coloring. I’ll sit down and color my heart out with any kid who’s up for it. In a recent post on The Business Case for Adult Recess, Fast Company columnist Carson Tate explains the importance of “purposeless fun” and how something as simple as coloring can ease the mind and refocus attention, helping boost productivity.

Reading

The fastest way for me to tune out anything that is weighing heavily on my mind is to dive into a good book.

Me Time

This is what I like to call spa time. Those who know me well know I enjoy few things more than a day at the spa to unwind and recharge. Even if you’re not a spa person, give yourself permission to relax and enjoy an activity that makes you feel happy, whether it’s reading a good book by the fire or battling rebel troops in cyberspace.

Digital Decluttering

I always spend a couple days at the office, completely uninterrupted, doing my annual “housekeeping.” I completely clear out my inbox, organize or delete files and folders, and sort and declutter my bookmarks. Not only does it feel great to get rid of all those things I no longer need, I start the new year with a fresh, organized digital workspace.

Long Walks

Although I’m a fair weather runner at best, I’ve found walking to be enjoyable year round. Reconnecting with nature while jamming to whichever Spotify playlist suits my mood helps me regain perspective and recharge after a long day.

Rally

After taking the time to reflect and refresh, I organize my goals into lists of the bold and daring, as well as the mundane and elementary, and devise a strategy to rally behind them.

Set Your Goals

When brainstorming, it helps to establish goals based on the core values that fuel your drive for progress. Jim Collins and Jerry Porras state in their award winning book, Built to Last, that the key to building a visionary company is aligning your big hairy audacious goals with the core ideology that guides your organization. Just as such an approach helps organizations successfully stand against adversity, focusing on my own values when setting personal goals helps ensure I remain true to myself.

Build Your Team

Although some goals must be achieved alone, articulating your goals to others can be the first step in your path to attainment. I find that if I am willing to relay a personal goal to a friend, coworker or family member, then I am more likely to fully commit to achieving that goal. Saying it aloud clarifies my intent and helps me build a support system that will hold me accountable and provide valuable advice and encouragement along the way.

Adjust Your Behaviors

Once I have a strong list of goals for the year, I turn my attention to building a strategy to achieve them. This often comes in the form of understanding which personal beliefs or behaviors are currently a barrier to my success and focusing on how I can adjust those behaviors.

As I inch my way closer to each goal, I try to spend less time focusing on desired outcomes and more time on the behaviors and habits I can form now that will influence those outcomes. Former Broncos running back Reggie Rivers addresses this notion in his Tedx Talk, “If You Want to Achieve Your Goals, Don’t Focus On Them.” Rivers explains that by studying your behaviors and looking at what you can do today, tomorrow and this week, the motivation you receive from these short term achievements will lead to your long term success.

Ultimately, the key to consistently making choices that move us in the right direction is knowing where we’re going to begin with. Year end is a perfect time to re-evaluate the roads we’ve taken, take a moment to appreciate the view and set a course for the next leg of the journey.

What do you do to prepare for the new year?