Using December to Build Momentum For 2025
By JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT Published December 9, 2024
Welcome to the Do Not DECsturb series! The last four weeks of the year often get written off with the mindset that we’ll “start fresh on January 1st.” But let’s flip the script—what if you walked into the new year already feeling accomplished, clear, and full of momentum? That’s the inspiration behind this series. Over the next four weeks, we’ll reflect on where we are, uncover and tackle limiting beliefs that might be holding us back, and begin crafting a vision for the 2025 we truly want to live.
First up in the Do Not DECsturb series: a life audit. This is a powerful tool to take a deep, honest look at your life. It’s easy to think we’re aware of everything happening beneath the surface, but let’s be real—things slip through the cracks. A life audit helps you evaluate where you’ve been thriving, where you might need some love and attention, and everything in between.
The approach I use draws inspiration from Rachel Hollis and Jaz Turner, blending their ideas into a process that’s both empowering and eye-opening. It’s all about being realistic with yourself— celebrating your wins and identifying areas for growth. Rachel Hollis’s life audit involves breaking life into key areas (like health, relationships, and finances), rating your satisfaction in each, identifying gaps, and focusing on actionable steps to improve while celebrating your wins. Jaz Turner’s approach adds a creative twist, using visual tools like charts or journaling to explore emotions, energy, and balance across life areas. Let’s get into it.
1 The Life Audit Worksheet
Label the Quadrants: Use the Life Audit Worksheet to assign each quadrant to an area of your life that matters most to you— for example you might include Relationships, Finances, Self-Care, Career, or Self-Development.
Reflect on the Past Year: Take some time to review the last 12 months. Use tools like your camera roll, text messages, and planner or calendar to jog your memory about key moments, patterns, and milestones in each area.
Rate Each Area: Give each quadrant a score out of 10 based on your current level of satisfaction. For example, if you focused heavily on work but felt disconnected from loved ones, Career might score an 8, while Relationships might score a 4.
Visualize Your Score: Using the numbered rings within your circle (1 being the center and 10 the outermost), fill in the corresponding number of rings for each quadrant to represent your score. This creates a clear visual of where you’re thriving and where there’s room for improvement.
2 Acknowledge Your Wins
While the life audit helps identify areas for improvement, it’s just as important to recognize where you’ve been thriving. Acknowledging your wins isn’t just about boosting your mood—it’s a way to celebrate the progress you’ve made and build momentum for future growth.
Reflect on Successes: Look at the areas that scored high in your audit. Ask yourself, What worked well here? What habits, choices, or changes contributed to this success?
Identify Key Moments: Pinpoint specific wins—big or small—from the past year. Did you nail a big project at work? Improve your physical health? Strengthen a relationship? These moments deserve to be celebrated.
Express Gratitude: Take a moment to be thankful for your progress, and if others contributed to your wins, let them know how much it meant to you.
Learn from Your Wins: Use what worked as a blueprint for other areas. For instance, if you improved your finances by budgeting, could that discipline help in another area like health or time management?
Recognizing your wins isn’t just a feel-good exercise—it’s a reminder of your capability and resilience, helping you carry that confidence forward as you set new goals.
3 Identify Your Gaps
Identifying gaps in your life audit is about understanding where things might not be aligned with your goals or values—not to beat yourself up, but to create awareness and opportunities for growth.
Pinpoint Low Scores: Start with the quadrants that scored the lowest. Ask yourself, What’s not working here? and What feels out of balance?
Get Specific: Dig into the details. If relationships scored low, is it due to lack of quality time, unresolved conflicts, or feeling disconnected? If it’s career, is it about job satisfaction, growth opportunities, or work-life balance?
Look for Patterns: Consider what might be causing the gap. Is it a lack of time, energy, or resources? Are there limiting beliefs or habits holding you back? Identifying the root cause can give you clarity on where to start.
Reframe the Gap: Instead of viewing it as a failure, see it as an opportunity. Low scores don’t mean you’re doing poorly—they highlight where you have an opportunity for the most meaningful changes.
Set Priorities: Not every gap needs to be tackled immediately. Decide which area feels most urgent or impactful to address first. Focus your energy there rather than spreading yourself thin.
Remember, identifying your gaps is less about pointing out what’s wrong and more about uncovering areas of potential. It’s a chance to redirect your energy in a more productive way.
4 Make A Plan For 2025
Now that you’ve reflected on where you’re thriving and where you’d like to improve, it’s time to turn those insights into action. Making a plan for the year ahead isn’t about perfection— it’s about creating an intentional, realistic roadmap that will actually work for you.
Build on Your Strengths: Look at the areas where you’re thriving and ask yourself, What habits, routines, or strategies contributed to this success? Consider how you can replicate or expand those practices. For instance, if regular exercise helped boost your energy, can you schedule similar self-care habits like quarterly massages or weekly yoga classes in 2025?
Prioritize Meaningful Changes: Identify one or two key areas to focus on first. Trying to change everything at once can feel overwhelming, so focus on small, manageable shifts that will have the biggest impact.
Make Room for Joy: Don’t just focus on improvement—make space for what brings you joy. If reconnecting with friends lights you up, plan a weekly coffee date with a girlfriend. If traveling inspires you, start saving or researching trips for next year.
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