End the Year by Doing a Little Good—for Yourself
This week’s drive home from dropping Sean back at Bates College left me thinking about the holidays and what they mean for so many of us. Coleen had her Christmas playlist on, and the song Do A Little Good from Spirited (yes, the Ryan Reynolds movie) came on. It wasn’t the original version, but the lyrics still hit me, especially this line:
"But even if you lost your way, you don't have to stay a lost cause."
The holidays can bring joy and celebration, but for many, they also come with a side of doubt, anxiety, or comparison. It’s easy to feel like you’re not as happy, successful, or satisfied as those around you seem to be. And that’s when it hit me: Why do we wait for the new year to set resolutions when we can start doing a little good right now?
A Fresh Start Doesn’t Need a Date
The song goes on:
"So can we do a little good?
Maybe give a little more?
Work a little harder than we did the day before."
What if, instead of waiting for January 1st, we used these last weeks of the year to focus on doing good—not just for others but also for ourselves?
The idea has nothing to do with gift-giving or setting unrealistic goals. It’s about taking small, intentional steps to end the year feeling better, stronger, and more aligned with what you truly want. Think about it: If you start today, you’ll already have a running start when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
Small Steps, Big Impact
Starting new habits is always tough, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few ways you can “do a little good” for yourself before the year ends:
Reflect on What Matters: Take 10 minutes a day to journal or meditate. What went well this year? What didn’t? Use this time to gain clarity.
Move Your Body: You don’t need to hit the gym for an hour—start with a 10-minute walk or some light stretching.
Give Yourself Grace: Let go of the guilt or pressure you’ve been carrying. You’re doing better than you think.
Give a Little More: This doesn’t have to mean money. Give more kindness, patience, or gratitude—to yourself and others.
Plan, Don’t Overhaul: Think about one habit or change you want to carry into 2024. Start small and build from there.
One of the things I did recently to end the year “stronger” was implement a five-minute stretching routine immediately after waking up. I got the idea from Jesse Itzler, who, in his weekly newsletter, Free Swim, discussed the need for stretching as we age. A friend suggested the routine, which you can find here.
Then, the universe threw me a bone. My friend Scott sent me a video of five simple stretches you should do before your first cup of coffee—not after your workout, not sometime during the day—specifically before that first cup of coffee. I started doing them, and the impact was immediate. -Jesse Itzler
I’ve never been flexible. Even as a kid, during my early soccer and hockey days, I always found myself stretching when other kids were not. I’m not sure I’ll ever call myself flexible, but I have already noticed a difference in how I feel immediately after stretching and throughout the day, especially with the hips and hamstrings.
I could have waited until 2025 to start this new routine, but I’m glad I didn’t.
Ending on a High Note
The end of the year is the perfect time to pause and reflect—not to dwell on what didn’t go right, but to recognize the little things you can change or improve. Doing a little good for yourself now isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
So why wait for the new year? Start today. Work a little harder, give a little more, and most importantly, be a little kinder to yourself. Because as the song reminds us:
"It only takes a little good."
Let’s finish this year strong—together.
See you next week.