Winding Down The Year

It’s December. It feels different. There’s a sense of something in the air. Maybe it’s the cooler weather, lights, smiles, or knowing you’re about to hit a different rhythm for a few weeks.

Christmas parties, choir specials, and gift exchange replace some of your regular week-to-week schedule, and you’re not sure if you like it, love it, or hate it.

But no matter what, December always means a few things. First, it’s a built-in moment to remind students about the coming of Jesus. That alone is incredible. Second, it’s a chance to enjoy all the hot chocolate and peppermint bark, which will likely add a few pounds before the year’s out. (Great opportunity for a classic joke: “I thought the dryer was shrinking my clothes. Turns out it was the refrigerator all along.” Finally, it’s a chance to wind down the year with intentionality, purpose, and forward thinking.

For years, I’ve felt like December flies by way too fast. Perhaps it’s a change in the rhythm. Maybe it’s because I’m doing more. Or maybe, I’m in a month-long food coma of some sort. But what I do know is this: if I don’t slow down on purpose and prioritize my thinking, December will speed me up by default. As I’m winding down the year, my focus can quickly shift to simply counting down the days until this year wraps up.

I fear that many of us often sprint into the new year. Maybe we’re excited, but what comes after a sprint? Tired. Fatigue. Exhaust. We’re carrying the weight of 11+ months and never stopped long enough to process. Well, what if this year looked different? What if the final stretch of this year became a moment to finish faithfully?

Here are a few practical ways to wind down the year to help your soul breathe, life reset, and heart realign with what matters most.

CELEBRATE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, NOT WHAT YOU WISH HAPPENED

We are really good at remembering things that don’t go well and forgetting what did. Maybe that’s the event evaluation side of us, or our drive to make things better. But if we’re not careful, we become overly critical or blind to the things God actually did because we were hoping for a different outcome.

Take 15 minutes and list out:

• The wins from the year
• Students who took a next step
• Volunteers who stepped up
• Parents who engaged
• Moments where God surprised you

Full-stop here. 

The answers here are HUGE! They can’t be overlooked. I hope that, as you do, you’re shocked at how much God did that you forgot about.

Fuel the end by remembering the work of God. Adjust your mindset from what didn’t happen to look at what God did.

IDENTIFY THE DRIFT

Youth ministry is cyclical. There are patterns, seasons, and rhythms that repeat year over year. As you’re winding down, this is the moment to ask: Where did things drift?

Take 15 minutes and list out:

• What consistently drained me? (And what can I learn about that?)
• What consistently energized me? (And what can I learn about that?)
• What do I need to adjust for healthier rhythms next year?

This isn’t about being critical or complaining about something. It’s rooted in a desire to learn. It’s learning more about yourself as a leader, naming what’s actually happening in your year, and creating space for new opportunities to grow.

Maybe you realize that your Wednesday nights are draining you because you’re trying to do too much alone. Maybe you’re realizing that leading that small group is filling you up way more than that big event.

Pay attention to the patterns. They can teach you something.

IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE

This is one of my favorites. As I reflect on my life and my year, I’m amazed at the men and women that God has placed in my path. God’s gift and provision of these people keep me moving in the right direction. 

A question you need to spend time answering: Who shaped you this year?

Maybe a mentor who called to check in. A volunteer who shouldered something you didn’t ask them to. A spouse who gave you extra grace through a demanding season. A student who reminded you of why you do this.

Pick five people and reach out before the year ends. Call them. Text them. Send a handwritten card. Tell them what their relationship means to you.

We all stand on the shoulders of those who have invested in us and shaped us. Let them know what they’ve done in your life.

Have that conversation. Say thanks. Bless them. It’s not just a nice thing to do. It will fill your heart with humility and gratitude and remind you that you’re not alone.

REALLY REST

Rest isn’t sitting on the couch on your off day with your computer open, catching up on your emails. It’s not being on standby for a phone call. Rest is unplugging. Disconnecting. It’s choosing to slow down when you could be doing something else.

Consider trying to turn your phone off for one day a week. Do something that fills your soul. Sit in God’s Word quietly. Go for a walk without that podcast. Sleep in one morning. Play longer with your kids without glancing at a screen.

Your body needs it, but more importantly, your soul needs it. It longs for it.

LOOK BACK BEFORE YOU LOOK AHEAD

Before you start dreaming about next year, take time to look back on this one.

• You led and discipled students through another year.
• You cared for them in ways they’ll never know.
• You kept showing up even when you were tired or hurting.

God was at work this year. In them and in you. Before you go running into the new year, stop and pause to remember how God was at work this year and how He is preparing you for next. Prepare yourself to step into the new year with a clear heart. 

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

1. What’s one win from this year you need to celebrate before moving on
2. What’s one thing that consistently trained you this year, and what might that be telling you about next year?

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