How to Prepare Now for a Better 2026

Great years don’t start in January, they start with how you end December. The end of the year offers a rare and powerful opportunity that many overlook. While most people simply try to forget the year that has passed and coast into the new one, those who finish with intention position themselves for far greater success in the subsequent year. How you close the year often determines the momentum you carry into the next.

Here are five ways to maximize the end of the year:

1. Push to the End

No goal is ever too late to pursue. There is still time to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.

In professional sports, coaches understand a timeless truth: it’s not over until it’s over. The final moments of a game can completely reshape the outcome. A powerful example comes from the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Bayern led 1–0 for nearly the entire match and seemed certain to win. But in stoppage time, Teddy Sheringham equalized in the 91st minute, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær scored the winner in the 93^rd minute, turning defeat into a historic 2–1 victory and completing United’s legendary treble.

This lesson applies to life as well: the year is not over. There is still time to launch that idea, progress that project, start that business, or begin strengthening yourself for 2026. Every hour, every day, and every week counts. Increase your intensity, don’t give up early.

2. Take Stock

“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey

The end of the year is the ideal time to reflect:

• What worked?

• What didn’t?

• What lessons did successes and failures teach you?

The key to reflection is documentation. Don’t rely on memory, as a blunt pencil is still sharper than the sharpest memory. Write your lessons down, review them, and more importantly integrate them into your goals for the coming year. Keep them visible so they shape your daily decisions.

3. Prepare for the Next Year

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." -Maria Robinson, and according to Oprah Winfrey, a new year presents another chance for us to get it right.

Preparation always precedes performance.

To make the most of 2026, begin now. Prepare mentally, spiritually, and physically. Start mapping out where you want to be and strategize how you will get there. Identify the relationships you want to build, the opportunities you want to pursue, and the steps you must take.

Write your vision clearly, for “where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Organize your goals, your priorities, and even your finances, set the stage for the year you desire.

4. Rest and Recharge

True rest is not passive, it is intentional.

Don’t just sit back and watch TV. Change your environment. Spend meaningful time with family and friends. Be present and purposeful. It’s not about counting the hours spent; it’s about making the hours count. Rest is one of the greatest productivity tools you have. Use it actively.

5. Rekindle Connections

Every meaningful relationship requires intentional effort.

The end of the year is a powerful time to:

• Forgive and let go

• Express gratitude

• Reconnect with old friends

• Strengthen bonds that matter

Good relationships are one of the greatest forms of wealth. Invest in them.

Final Thought

The end of the year is not just a finish line, it is a launch pad. Celebrate the ending, reflect on the journey, and prepare with purpose. The way you close this year will shape the way you begin the next.