Year-End Checklist:

Finish Strong, Start Smarter

Year-End Checklist

A smooth year-end starts with a moment to pause.
Use this checklist to wrap up the important pieces, clear the mental clutter, and create space for a stronger start in 2026.
You do not have to do it all at once. Just begin where you are.

1. Financial Wrap-Up

  • Reconcile all accounts — including credit cards, subscriptions, and expense tools.

  • Confirm all invoices are sent, collected, or scheduled.

  • Review contracts and renewals due in Q1 2026.

  • Finalize or draft your 2026 budget.

  • Back up financial records (and name the file something better than “final_FINAL_v3.xlsx”).

2. Operations & Systems

  • Review your recurring workflows — what’s still working? What’s outdated?

  • Audit software and tools: cancel unused ones, upgrade what saves time.

  • Document key processes so you’re not rebuilding from memory in January.

  • Update SOPs and task management boards for 2026 projects.

  • Confirm out-of-office coverage and client handoffs for the holiday period.

3. People & Planning

  • Wrap up performance reviews and goal-setting conversations.

  • Celebrate wins — even the small ones (they add up).

  • Outline Q1 priorities before the new year officially starts.

  • Review bandwidth and resource needs — where could delegation or support help?

  • Schedule your first 2026 team sync or planning session now.

How to Use: Take 20 minutes, grab a coffee, and jot down:

  1. What drained your time this year?

    • List 3 tasks or patterns that didn’t serve you or your business?

  2. What actually moved the needle?

    • Identify 2-3 things that had the biggest impact. Let’s do more of this!

  3. What can you delegate, automate, or delete in 2026?

    • Because not every task deserves a spot on your list in the new year.

  4. What would “ease” look like next year?

    • Define it now and build around it.

The Strategy Reset Worksheet

A one page guided exercise to help you reflect and reset before the new year.