Make the Last 100 Days of the Year Count With 10 Little Habits

Somehow we're here, at the end of the year, at the last 100 days. Let's be honest, once fall arrives, the year feels essentially over. It's easy during this time to think "I'll just start fresh in January."

But it's time to challenge that mindset. Why? Because you still have roughly 100 days left of the year. This is plenty of time to make noticeable changes.

Let us explain - the goal right now isn't to cram a year's worth of goals into this final stretch. Instead, the goal is to look at these 100 days as an opportunity to do things.

What kinds of things? Finish something you've been putting off. Build a habit. Get your finances or schedule back on track. Spend more intentional time with people you love. Enter January feeling prepared instead of desperate and in need for a reset.

How to Make the Last 100 Days Meaningful

Basically, it's important to realize that you really don't need any sort of dramatic transformation. Instead, all you need are a few consistent habits to make the final 100 days feel purposeful. What are these habits? Here are the ten you should adopt that will really make the last 100 days of the year count.

1) Choose 1 - 3 things you actually want to accomplish

As much as you may feel the need and pressure to check off everything you had put on your list back in January, that is likely not realistic. Instead, look at the least - or toss it and start a new one - and think about the 1-3 things you really want to accomplish before year's end.

To do this, first look back at what you have already accomplished this year. Ask yourself questions like:

• What still matters to me?
• What would genuinely make me proud to finish?
• What can realistically happen in 100 days?

After this exercise, pick one major goal to focus on, and maybe two smaller goals. Be sure to keep in mind the difference between a goal that sounds impressive and one that actually matters to you.

How can you do that? An example is instead of saying you want to "completely overhaul your career," make the goal to "update your resume, connect with three professional contacts and apply to five jobs."

2) Start each week with a 15 minute reset for the remaining 100 days

On Sunday or Monday, start doing a planning ritual. Spend just 15 minute reviewing everything you have coming up, seeing what absolutely needs to get done this week, looking at what can wait, and figuring out where you want to make time for yourself.

While doing this, highlight your three priorities for the week. This will help you make the week feel intentional instead of reactive.

3) Make your mornings a little more intentional

You are going to see a theme with intention here! We're not telling you that you have to wake up at 5 AM for some elaborate morning routine. What we are telling you is that you should focus on creating a morning that helps you feel less rushed.

Make time for some daily habits like not immediately checking social media first thing, drinking water, reviewing your priorities and giving yourself 10 quiet minutes. This will all help you start the day on your own terms.

4) Do one thing every day that your future self will thank you for

Even a small decision today can make tomorrow easier. Send that email you've been avoiding. Schedule that appointment. Prep tomorrow's lunch. Put some money into savings. Clean up your inbox. Spend 20 minutes on a personal project.

The point isn't productivity for the sake of productivity. Instead, it's to reduce the number of things you have hanging over your head. That's how you'll really make these last 100 days count.

5) Put your phone down on purpose.

We're not telling you to delete every social media app, but we are telling you to become more intentional about when you're consuming content. Try to implement no-phone meals, one screen-free hour each day, a social media cutoff at night or keeping your phone away while working.

Ask yourself what would you do with the time you get back from not being on your phone? You can use this time to read, walk, call a friend, cook, or even simply doing nothing.

6) Move your body consistently during the last 100 days

Fall is honestly a great time to establish a sustainable movement routine before the holidays get here. Don't make this about weight loss or some sort of intense fitness challenge. Instead, focus on energy, strength, mood and feeling good.

Move your body consistently - not perfectly. Try 20 minute walks, stretching before bed, taking the stairs or three workouts a week. Consistency is key, not intensity.

7) Have a weekly "life admin" hour

You may not want to, but dedicating one hour each week to the things you've been procrastinating will make a big difference. Use this time to pay your bills, respond to emails, clean your room, update your budget, organize your calendar, return packages and so on.

Unfinished little tasks create so much more mental clutter than you realize. This one hour a week will prevent these things from becoming one giant end-of-year pile.

8) Make time for people you don't want to lose touch with in this last 100 days

Fall and the holidays are a natural reminder to reconnect. Try to make one intentional social gesture each week, like texting an old friend, planning a girls' night out, or calling a family member. Instead of waiting for someone else to reach out, initiate it yourself.

9) Start a "done before December" list

Switch up your traditional "to-do" list and make one of things you'd love to have complete before the year ends. This will vary based on person but can include things like reading a certain number of books, reviewing your subscriptions, taking a day trip or updating your LinkedIn.

10) Reflect before you rush into the next year

Spend time not just looking forward, but looking backward, too. Reflection will help you prevent the cycle of constantly setting new goals without understanding what actually makes you happy. Ask yourself things like:

• What am I proud of this year?
• What surprised me?
• What didn't work?
• What did I learn about myself?
• Who made this year better?
• What do I want more - or less - of next year?

Final Thoughts on Making the Last 100 Days Count for Something

In the last 100 days of a year, it's natural for motivation to check until January. But, you still have ways to make those days count. Pick one or more of these ideas to get started. The ones that seems easiest or most appealing to you is the best place to get going.

Let yourself be flexible and don't stress if a habit doesn't work well for you. We want less stress, remember? Let's go into next year feeling good about ourselves and what we have accomplished.

About the Author

---