Reflect, Rest, Recharge: How to Use December to Prepare for Your Best Year Yet

Reflect, Rest, Recharge: How to Use December to Prepare for Your Best Year Yet

Step 1: Reflect

December is a built-in checkpoint—a time to look back on everything 2024 brought your way. The wins, the lessons, the challenges, the surprises. Reflection isn’t just about celebrating the highlights; it’s about processing the lows and learning from them, too.

One of my favorite ways to reflect is through journaling. Grab a notebook, light a candle, and carve out 15–20 minutes for some uninterrupted “me time.” Here are a few prompts to get you started:

• What am I most proud of this year?

• What were my biggest lessons, and how did they shape me?

• What brought me the most joy in 2024?

• What is one thing I want to leave behind as I move into 2025?

For me, running with purpose and a goal—like training for my first half marathon—was a huge highlight. It taught me about commitment and gave me space to build stronger friendships through the process. But reflecting also brought up areas where I struggled, like balancing work and personal time with Root + Renew and, admittedly, my dating life.

Here’s the thing: dating in 2024 felt like being in the middle of a game where no one’s quite clear on the rules. I learned that relationships, like goals, need clarity, alignment, and effort from both sides. This year taught me to stop trying to "play coach" or wait for a perfect play when it’s clear the team isn’t working. So in 2025? I’m leaving behind half-hearted connections and situationships that leave me more confused than fulfilled. I want—and deserve—something that feels certain, even when life isn’t.

Pro Tip: Reflection is powerful, but it works best when it’s intentional. I recommend The Best Year Journal from Intelligent Change—it’s a game changer for structuring your thoughts, setting goals, and tracking progress. It’s like a personal roadmap to help you process the year and plan for what’s ahead.

Reflection isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. By learning from where we’ve been, we can better prepare for where we’re headed.

Step 2: Rest

I’m going to say it: Rest is the real MVP of December. We’re often so busy trying to “finish strong” and distracted with plenty of holiday parties that we forget how important rest is for our bodies, minds, and overall well-being.

If you’re anything like me, sleep can be the first thing to suffer when life gets hectic. But quality sleep is where the magic happens—it’s when your body repairs, your mind processes, and you wake up ready to tackle whatever’s next. These new couple of weeks, I challenge you to prioritize rest as a non-negotiable part of your wellness routine.

Here’s how to level up your rest game:

1. Create a Nighttime Routine You Love: Wind down with habits that signal your body it’s time to sleep—like reading, meditating, or dimming the lights an hour before bed.

2. Set a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep every night, and try to stick to the same bedtime and wake-up time.

3. Support Restful Sleep Naturally: This is where CBDistillery’s Enhanced Deep Sleep Gummies can work wonders. With their three-way blend of cannabinoids, they help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling refreshed—no grogginess, just pure restoration.

Pro Tip: Build a Sleep Toolkit

If you really want to take your sleep to the next level, try a few of my favorite tools that support relaxation and deeper rest:

• Muse Meditation Headband: Helps you clear your mind before bed with guided meditations and brainwave feedback for a tech-savvy approach to winding down. Wellness Rewind readers can enjoy 20% off with code WELLNESSBUM on choosemuse.com.

• Momentous Elite Sleep: A research-backed supplement blend that promotes recovery and improves sleep quality—perfect for athletes or anyone needing deep rest.

• Topcee All-Season Weighted Blanket: Like a cozy hug, this weighted blanket reduces anxiety and helps your body transition into sleep more easily.

• Manta Sleep Mask: A game-changer for blocking out light while staying soft and comfortable, so you can fall—and stay—asleep in total darkness.

• Huberman Sleep Protocols: Dr. Andrew Huberman has a consistent sleep schedule and routine that might be helpful to draw inspiration from and incorporate some or all of his science backed recommendations. (Listen to Episode 2 of the Huberman Lab Podcast (Master Your Sleep) that is all about this topic.)

Experiment with these tools to find what works for you. Whether it’s a weighted blanket, a tech-forward meditation session, or a little CBD to help you wind down, the goal is simple: give yourself permission to rest.

When you prioritize rest, you’re not being “lazy” or unproductive—you’re investing in your energy, clarity, and ability to thrive. Sleep well, so you can show up as your best self for the year ahead.

Step 3: Recharge

Once you’ve reflected and prioritized rest, it’s time to recharge and set intentions for the year ahead. This isn’t about crafting a giant New Year’s resolution list (we all know how those go). Instead, focus on clarity and purpose. Think about how you want to feel in 2025 and the small steps that can help you get there.

I like to start with a vision board. I know it might sound cheesy, but visualizing your goals helps you stay connected to them. Whether you go digital with a tool like Canva or get crafty with magazines and scissors, create something that reflects the life you’re building. Focus on key areas like health, career, relationships, and personal growth.

If vision boards aren’t your thing, try setting micro-goals for January to build momentum for the year. For example:

• Commit to 30 minutes of movement 3 times a week.

• Create a morning or evening routine that works for YOU.

• Set boundaries with work hours to protect your personal time.

Small, achievable goals are your best friend when it comes to recharging and setting the tone for a successful year ahead.

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Your December Challenge

Here’s your challenge this week: Take 30 minutes to reflect, rest, and recharge. Journal about your year, create a bedtime routine that prioritizes sleep, and start imagining how you want 2025 to look. Remember, this isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and intention.