As 2025 comes to an end (thank goodness!), we need to wrap up the year properly. We need to tie up any loose ends from this year. That means leaving habits, things, and people who no longer serve us in 2025 so that we can have a fresh start in 2026. Below are 10 things that you need to do before 2026 starts.
1. Spring Cleaning
Do not worry, it doesn’t need to be spring for you to do spring cleaning. I am from South Africa, so any form of decluttering is called spring cleaning.
Over the years, you have accumulated a lot of things that no longer have space in your life. Holding onto things you haven’t used in years just in case you need them one day is not being responsible; it is being a packrat. I need you to take a hard look around and start ruthlessly throwing or giving everything away. Declutter your clothes, books, furniture, and that blender that hasn’t worked in 3 years. You cannot enter 2026 with all that junk in your space.
2. Unsubscribe from Email Lists
The second thing you need to do before 2026 is clean out your inbox. We both know how stressful having a cluttered inbox is. And we both know how easy it is for important emails to get lost in the sea of emails trying to sell you courses.
Unsubscribe from websites that you no longer use. Unsubscribe from people whose newsletters you haven’t opened in the last month. This not only makes your inbox look cleaner and neater, but it also gives you space to subscribe to new people (ahem, me).
3. Unfollow Spree
In the same vein as number three, before 2026, you need to unfollow people who no longer resonate with you. Go through your YouTube subscriptions and unsubscribe from accounts that make you feel like you are not enough, that waste your time, or that are catering to a past version of you.
Do the same thing on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (I refuse to call it X). When you are done, clean up your fyp. Go and intentionally watch content that you want to see more of so that the algorithm knows what’s up and starts showing you that content.
4. Declutter your Digital Space
This is more directed at me than anybody else. I can easily throw away half my closet, but I struggle to delete a PDF from high school. My laptop and phone seriously need a deep clean. I need to delete apps that I no longer use, blurry photos, and the hundreds of documents from school.
5. Purchase New Books
Buying books, specifically ones that you plan to read in 2026, will get you so excited for the new year. Buy books that are on your most anticipated list and gift them to yourself for saving this horrible, horrible year. Just thinking about this is getting me so excited.
6. Audit your Life
Before 2026, you need to audit your life. You need to take stock of your life and ensure that it is moving in the right trajectory. Take stock of your relationships. Do you feel safe and loved in your romantic relationship? Do you feel drained and sad after spending time with your friends? Is your job still aligned with the type of person that you are?
Review all the aspects of your life and make sure that your life is moving towards your dream life.
7. Do a Financial Reset
I don’t care what anyone says, money is incredibly important. We need it to survive. That is just how society is structured. So you need to keep making more money and learning how to keep most of it.
Start by reviewing your spending. Look at where your money actually went this year, not where you thought it went. Cancel subscriptions you never use, cut out small leaks that add up, and ask yourself honestly: Did I spend on things that actually matter to me? Remember, money is a tool for you to live a life that you are absolutely crazy about.
8. Have a Self-care day
You need to pamper yourself before 2026 starts. Dedicate an entire day to spoiling yourself because you honestly deserve it. Have a bubble bath, do a face mask, get your nails and hair done, get a massage, and take yourself on a solo date. Celebrate yourself for completing another year.
9. Write a Letter to your January Self
Given an opportunity to talk to the January you, what would you want her to know? Take a pen and paper, and write a letter to her. Reassure her that everything will be fine. That 2025 will be an amazing year for her. Or in my case, tell her all the things that hilariously went terribly.
10. Reflect on 2025
Last but not least, before 2026 starts, you need to let go of 2025. You do that by having an end-of-year reflection session where you journal about everything that happened in 2025. Going into details about your accomplishments, your failures, your happy memories, and all the lessons you learned.
I created a free printable PDF for you with journal prompts to help you transition from 2025 to 2026. I also wrote an article guiding you through the process.
As 2025 is coming to an end, do these things: clear the clutter, and step into 2026 with a fresh start. Your future self will thank you.
If you need more ideas on what to do, here you go.
Thank you for reading.