How do you close out the year?
Are you the type who shuts down your laptop, leaves everything behind in a rush, and slams the office door at the end of the year, ready to forget about work entirely? Or are you the person methodically ticking off your to-do list, tying up loose ends, and winding down with intention—taking time to reflect on the year before stepping into the holidays?
We all approach the end of the year differently, but one thing is clear: how we choose to close it out can shape how we begin the next one. Whether you’re sprinting to the finish line or easing your way through, this is the perfect moment to pause and embrace the power of gratitude. Reflecting on the good—big and small—can be a game changer as you prepare for the holidays and the new year.
Gratitude: More than just a buzzword
“Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.“
—Dr Robert Emmons
The end of the year often brings a flurry of activity—work deadlines, holiday preparations, and the pressure to “finish strong.” Gratitude can feel like another item on an already overflowing to-do list. But when we make space for it, gratitude becomes so much more than a nice-to-have practice. It’s a mindset—a powerful shift in perspective that can transform how we view the past year and approach the one ahead. Like hitting a reset button, gratitude helps recharge our mindset, allowing us to enter the holiday season with balance, calm, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Research supports the benefits of gratitude in shifting our mental and emotional states. According to Dr. Robert Emmons, one of the leading experts in gratitude research, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” It’s a simple yet profoundly impactful way to improve your quality of life.
A 2003 study by Dr. Emmons and Dr. Michael McCullough found that participants who kept a gratitude journal reported higher levels of well-being, improved mood, and more optimism. The act of regularly acknowledging what we are grateful for can rewire our brains to focus more on the positive, leading to greater happiness over time.
Why gratitude matters now more than ever
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.“
—Dr Robert Emmons
As we near the end of the year, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the weight of everything we’ve tried to accomplish or what still feels unfinished. But when we intentionally focus on gratitude, we shift from a mindset of scarcity and stress to one of abundance and calm. Gratitude helps us see that even the small wins—whether it’s completing a project, making time for family, or just finding a moment of peace (ok, that last one can be a big win)—are worth celebrating.
Here’s why gratitude is especially important now
1. Reflecting on progress
The end of the year is the ideal time to reflect on how far we’ve come. Gratitude helps us appreciate the growth we’ve experienced, even in the face of challenges. It’s a reminder that no progress is too small, and every step forward counts. Dr. Emmons notes, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”
2. Strengthening relationships
The holidays are often centered around connection with others. Expressing gratitude to those around us—whether it’s a colleague, a friend, or a family member—helps strengthen bonds and encourages positivity in our relationships. Research from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley found that people who regularly express gratitude are more likely to have supportive, trusting relationships. When we show appreciation for others, it reinforces feelings of connection and warmth. Even better a study shows that expressing gratitude creates a ripple effect that brings entire groups of people together all through simply witnessing an act of gratitude.
3. Boosting mental wellbeing
Gratitude is a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety, especially during the busy holiday season. By focusing on the good, even in the chaos, we can shift our energy toward calm, allowing us to approach the holidays with a sense of peace and joy. According to psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman in his book Authentic Happiness, “The secret to a happy life is not in being perfect but in seeing the positive in life, and that will increase our resilience.” Studies have also shown that practicing gratitude can reduce symptoms of depression, enhance overall emotional health and even lengthen lives.
4. Creating momentum for the new year
As we close out the year, gratitude can set the tone for the new one. Acknowledging what we’re thankful for gives us the clarity to move forward with intention, opening up the possibilities for even more growth and success in the year ahead. One study notes that gratitude is strongly associated with feelings of hope and a positive outlook on the future, helping individuals stay focused and motivated.
How to Practice Gratitude This Holiday Season
“The secret to a happy life is not in being perfect but in seeing the positive in life, and that will increase our resilience”
—Dr Martin Seligman, Authentic Happiness
The holiday season doesn’t have to be about rushing through your to-do list or trying to juggle everything at once. Instead, it’s the perfect opportunity to slow down and integrate gratitude into your life with small, intentional practices. By weaving gratitude into our daily routines, we can create a sense of peace and presence as we wrap up the year.
Here’s how you can get started:
1. Reflect on your year
Take a moment each evening to pause and reflect on your day. Consider the things you’ve accomplished, the lessons you’ve learned, and the people who have had a positive impact on your life. These don’t need to be big, dramatic moments—just small, meaningful things that you’re grateful for. Writing these down, even if briefly, can help cultivate a sense of satisfaction and peace as you close out the year. For a deeper dive, you can use my free End-of-Year Reflection Tool to guide your reflections and set intentions for the future.
2. Show your appreciation
Gratitude doesn’t just stay within—share it! As you prepare for the holidays, make it a point to express your thanks to someone who’s made a difference in your life this year. It could be a colleague, a friend, a mentor, or a family member. Whether it’s a heartfelt note, a simple message, or a thoughtful gesture, showing appreciation will strengthen your relationships and spread some holiday cheer.
3. Practice mindful gratitude
Amid the holiday hustle, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos. But a few moments of mindful gratitude each day can anchor you in the present. Take a pause, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and reflect on three things you’re grateful for. These quiet moments can ground you, helping you approach each day with calm and intention. They don’t have to be long; even a minute or two can make a big difference in how you feel.
4. Create new gratitude traditions
Why not start a new tradition this year that focuses on gratitude? Whether it’s going around the table at your holiday dinner and sharing one thing you’re grateful for or writing down your daily gratitudes in a journal leading up to the new year, small rituals like these can help make gratitude a regular part of your life. The simple act of sharing and reflecting on what we’re thankful for can bring us closer to those around us and deepen our sense of connection.
Give yourself and others the gift of gratitude
As we approach the holidays and step into the new year, let’s make gratitude a gift we give to ourselves and others. By focusing on the good—both big and small—we invite more peace, joy, and connection into our lives, whether we’re surrounded by loved ones or taking some much-needed time for ourselves.
Gratitude is a small yet mighty habit that offers powerful benefits for our mental and emotional well-being. It reduces stress, improves relationships, enhances resilience, and even boosts our overall longevity. Simply acknowledging what we’re grateful for helps shift our focus from scarcity to abundance, cultivating a positive outlook and strengthening our ability to manage challenges.
It’s no surprise that gratitude is one of the 12 small and mighty habits of success in the Power of Small Steps, my signature coaching program. When practiced consistently, these small, intentional habits build a solid foundation for achieving success without burnout. They create a sustainable rhythm in your personal and professional life, helping you perform at your best without the overwhelm.
If you’re ready to make 2025 a year of consistent growth, greater balance, and more gratitude, I’d love to support you. The Power of Small Steps program will help you implement these powerful habits, ensuring you stay focused, motivated, and on track throughout the year. Or, if you’d like more tailored guidance, book a 1:1 coaching session to dive deeper into your personal growth and navigate the year ahead with intention and clarity.
Let’s work together to build the habits that will help you achieve lasting success—without the stress. Book a free Action Game Plan now.
About the author
Josie Askin, CEO of Spring Coaching, is a performance and productivity coach who works with driven leaders and entrepreneurs to improve their performance and productivity.
Josie has nearly 20 years working in government, in a range of advisory roles. She became interested in the gaps between workplace performance and wellbeing, gradually building analogies between sport and business performance while gaining several coaching qualifications. Now she deals with clients under pressure from all walks of life offering tailored leadership performance coaching, workplace wellbeing programmes, workshops, speaking and facilitation.