EngineerHer

Last week, I posted about how to reflect on the end of year. Get yourself set up right for 2026. But we still have a few months to go in the current year. (Gotta be honest, I originally typed “a few minutes to go” in that sentence, and honestly – either would have done!)

And there are plenty of people out there telling you to make sure to “finish strong” and not to ease up towards the end of the year. Those people obviously have more stamina than I do.

Now I’m not saying to slack off, but balance as always, is everything. So how do we go about this?

Family first

I know, I’m talking about career and work, but saying family first?

The horror!

But I’m telling you now. There’s one immoveable date on my calendar for the month of December right now and that’s the date I’m going with my niece to see Santaí. Nothing else is being allowed to interfere with that day.

OK, I’m lucky, I have one niece and get to pour all my doting on her.

But seriously – what do you need to give to your family coming up to the end of the year? Depending on the family it could be different things. Not everyone has kids to bring to Santaí, but there might be other traditions that are hugely important in your family.

Maybe Halloween is the big festival in your household and you go all out, take some time off work, really engage with the spirit of the season.

It’s possible the entire winter period requires split second timing due to awards events, social events, visiting people, etc, etc, etc.

It doesn’t matter.

Get what’s important to you in the diary first, then consider the work element.

How to “finish strong” in work for the year?

You know when people say “finish strong”, they don’t usually mean “work yourself into an early grave”. No, seriously. But different places have different definitions for “finish strong” and it’s best to understand what that means for your workplace.

For me – well, honestly, these days, it usually means leaving things organised for a few days off over the Christmas period, making sure key projects get over the line and making sure nothing major happens on the holiday party night.

So, where to start?

Goals

When was the last time you look at your goals for the year? If it was mid-year review time, then now’s a good time to take a look.

What do you need to get done before the end of the year? Half the time we build up the goals in our heads and they can be easily fixed with a few key emails (yes, I am a Gen Xer) or a quick conversation.

If some of them aren’t achievable by year end, then now’s a good time to re-negotiate based on the business now, rather than the business 9 months ago. In most places I’ve work, goals are editable for this very reason.

Do out a quick plan for yourself and start working through it.

Organisation

I know we’re all super organised all of the time (ahem….) but there’s a need for a bit more organisation coming towards year end.

Plenty of people are taking time off, or slowing down or just generally not at the same level they’re at for the rest of the year. And let’s be honest, for some people, this is sheer exhaustion!

So, people might need a bit more support, encouragement or clarity on what actually needs to get done versus what can wait. And they might need a bit of help on how to leave things at the end of 2025 so 2026 doesn’t start off with a massive shitshow.

Not that that has every happened to me… of course not…

For your own sake and for the people around you, think about what could you do now to make future you’s life easier!

Day-to-day

Don’t let up on the day-to-day. Trust me – those tasks that are small, regular and keep things ticking over? There are reasons you do them.

Whether it’s the weekly update email to an offsite stakeholder or just keeping on top of the holiday requests, trust me, it’s easier to keep going with them. This ties into the organisation piece above, but seriously – just keep going with them.

In fact, if you work in a major corporation where you know you’re going to have masses of new procedures to train on come the end of the year -that’s one thing to keep on top of. Because the damn due dates pop up really quickly in the new year!!

Have fun!

Yes, that is the T-shirt I’m wearing to work today. And it’s valid.

It’s part of my ramp up to Halloween. This time of year, it gets so dark and dreary out, it’s no wonder most of our holidays and festivals include light. And I take this into work with me.

Now, look, there are work places and managers that would have an apoplectic fit at seeing something like this in the workplace. Thankfully, mine is a bit more easy going on things like this.

And if nothing else, it brings a smile to people’s faces.

Now, it’s not like I hate everyone. Once you become a person to me, there’s a fairly high chance I won’t hate you. But people in general?

No.

And between now and the 31st October, I have a selection of T-shirts, dresses and tights to be displayed with joy and happiness for the season that’s in it!

There’ll be more for Christmas!!

How to make this work for you?

Look, I know – dressing up in marginally acceptable workwear isn’t for everyone. (Marginally doing a lot of work in that sentence!)

But there has to be some way to maintain joy and happiness coming towards the end of the year.

Get the work shit organised. Lay out a plan, meeting with yourself weekly to make sure you keep up to date with it and get things ticked off the list.

And then plan in some fun as well. I don’t care if it’s bringing in a subtly subversive coffee cup or dressing in a full on Halloween costume, but do something to keep your cheer up at this time of year!

Ask for help! You don’t have to do everything. It might feel that way, but really and truly, you don’t. Either not everything needs to get done or there are people who can help you. And especially if it’s only yourself you’re pleasing, you can challenge the standards you hold yourself to and see if they need to be lowered or raised.

Either way – make it work for you. 2026 will start within a second of 2025 ending.