Hey and welcome back to my Substack! I’m Kayla and I’ve been blogging for just about 10 years. Girl’s Girl is my new project; I’m glad you’re here! 💖
I love the time between Christmas and New Year because there’s always lots to reflect upon… and document. Since I started keeping true journals again, I’ve been super conscious about closing the year (and the journal) meaningfully.
Some things I've done in the past:
A-Z of the year round-up of current events/pop culture/personal stuff. I keep a list in my notes app and then create a spread in my journal in December/January.
Letter to my past/future self. I'll end the journal with reflections on the year for a future me reading the journal back or I'll write something at the start of a new year and seal it just for end-of-year-me to read. I love this how-to, it includes just about everything I write in mine!
Collage of all the books I read for the year and quick little thoughts/star ratings written around them which turned out really cool.
Year Compass... I just found this site but it looks super cool and in-depth! Printed out the booklet in A5 size and may post it in the end pages of my Hobonichi. I love the reflective questions and the fact that it closes out the current year while also bringing in the next! I made a video about it on TikTok as well!
Affirmations. One of my favvvv things to do is write affirmations for the year. Things I want to embody in the coming months and things I want to remember as I move forward through the year. My main mantra for 2023 was “I’m so lucky, everything is always working out for me” and holy COWWW did that mantra serve me so well.
Make lists of your top 5’s. Movies, books, memes, shows, songs, moments, foods eaten, etc. I may utilize one of the 2024 look-ahead monthly views in my 2023 journal for this.
Choose a word of the year. Sometimes a word really jumps out at me, so I’ll run with it. Other times, nothing does… so I don’t choose a word. Just depends!
In/out lists. This was sooo fun to make last year and I will likely do it again. Can be anything. Try not to take it too seriously.
Comment below! What reflection questions do you answer in your journal or planner at the end of the year, if any? What sorts of things do you track throughout the year and might do a round-up for (e.g., media, general world events)? Have you been thinking about goals/mood boarding/a word-of-the-year for 2024? Share with the class if you want 😊
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I think I might do a Letterboxd/movies I watched this year round up
Great ideas! I don't really have a process for ending the year but I might start with a Top 5 list. My mantra for 2024 is "I'm excited." I plan to lean on this when I feel anxious or nervous about doing something new. I expect big changes next year and I'm trying to get ahead of the negative thoughts and put myself in more receptive place.