You don’t need to do it all, just start where you are.

Let’s be honest, end-of-year energy is chaotic at the best of times.

For ADHD brains, it’s not just the deadlines, holidays, and social events… it’s the pressure to reflect, wrap things up, set new goals, and somehow not fall apart doing it.

You might feel like you’re supposed to end the year productive, present, and full of clarity, but really, you’re staring at an inbox full of tabs, half-finished plans, and a brain that wants to do everything and nothing at once.

If that’s you? You’re not behind. You’re just overwhelmed.

Here’s how to close out your year gently, without slipping into meltdown mode.

1. The “Close Enough” Wrap-Up

You do not need to finish everything.

Pick just 1–3 things you’d love to let go of or call “done enough” for the year, even if they’re not perfect.

That might mean:

Sending that email you’ve been avoiding (even if it’s short)
Archiving a project that’s not happening
Closing tabs you haven’t opened in a month

ADHD Tip: Write a “Let it Go” list, physically list the things you’re choosing not to carry into the new year.

2. Don’t Make It a Life Audit

You don’t need to fix your whole life in December.

While reflection is useful, too much pressure to “figure it all out” can send ADHD brains into panic.

Instead, keep it simple:

Instead of this...	Try this...
“What are my goals for next year?”	“What’s one thing I want to feel more of?”
“How did I fail this year?”	“What helped me feel calm or capable?”
“What should I change?”	“What’s one small habit I could support?”

ADHD Tip: Use voice notes instead of journaling. Let your brain talk things out instead of writing them down.

3. Micro-Review Your Systems

Forget the big productivity reset.
Just ask:

What helped me this year?
What made things harder?

Then choose one system to tweak, not all of them.
Maybe you…

Re-label your calendar
Delete a to-do list that stressed you out
Set up one recurring reminder that actually helps

ADHD Tip: Most systems break because they stop being dopamine-friendly. Make them simpler, more visual, or more collaborative — not more rigid.

4. Protect Your Energy for January You

You don’t need to hit January at full speed.

Instead of going into full prep mode, consider doing less now to support more energy later.

That might mean:

Saying no to one end-of-year thing
Planning one small January support system now
Booking in something you know you’ll need later (like a VA, a break, or an accountability check-in)

ADHD Tip: Think of your energy as a budget. You don’t want to spend all of December’s “money” and hit January already in debt.