As the year winds down, many of us begin to feel that subtle shift — the quiet pull inward. December becomes a soft landing place, a moment to breathe, reflect, and tend to the emotional weight we’ve carried through the year.
For many women, the holidays bring both beauty and pressure: extra responsibilities, emotional load, expectations from others, and the desire to “hold it all together.” But within that busyness, there is still opportunity — the chance to honour yourself, name your needs, and gently prepare your heart for the year ahead.
This season is not about perfection.
It’s about presence, clarity, and creating space for something new.
Reflection Questions to Prepare for 2026
Set aside a few quiet minutes — with a cup of tea, a blanket, or soft morning light — and explore these prompts with compassion:
- What patterns from this year am I ready to release?
- Which ways of showing up for others nourished me… and which quietly drained me?
- What small moments, accomplishments, or choices deserve to be celebrated?
- Where did I push past my capacity? Where did I honour it?
This is not about judgment.
It’s about awareness, truth, and meeting yourself gently.
Envisioning Your Next Year
Once you’ve reflected, allow yourself to dream into 2026 — not in a pressured, goal-heavy way, but with openness and honesty.
- How do you want to feel on an ordinary Tuesday?
- What boundaries will help protect and honour your energy?
- What routines, habits, or supports will help you thrive — emotionally, mentally, or spiritually?
- What does “being good to yourself” look like next year?
Even the smallest vision can begin to shift something inside you.
A Gentle Reflection Exercise
Take 10 intentional minutes and write down:
- One thing you are ready to leave behind in 2025.
A pattern, a pressure, a belief, a habit, a way of shrinking or overextending. - One practice or habit you want to carry with you into 2026.
Something that grounded you, supported you, or helped you feel more like yourself. - One imagined moment from your ideal day in 2026.
How do you wake up? What does your space feel like? What does calm look like for you? What feels possible?
This simple exercise can bring clarity and a gentle sense of direction as you step into a new year.
Next Steps
If you’re feeling the quiet pull toward something different in 2026… you’re in the right place.
This January, I’m opening a few intimate coaching spots for women who are ready to move from overwhelm into clarity, confidence, and possibility.
If you want support navigating your patterns, softening your stress, and creating a life that feels like you again, book a discovery call today.
You don’t have to do this alone.
You just have to begin.
Erika Patterson Coaching 