2025 was full of changes “big and small” for many of us. Some of us have found new jobs, discovered a new passion, found love, or achieved personal milestones. Some faced sadness, insecurity, fear, loss and the rising tensions around us. Many of us have felt the weight of the increasing pressures in the world, wondering about stability, longing for love, connection and the beauty of life.
In the midst of these ups and downs, it’s easy to forget to be kind to ourselves. We make plans and goals and life mostly doesn’t go as we plan, so remind yourself that it’s okay not to have everything in place the way you thought it would be, it’s okay to move forward with the baggage or unfinished business of the year 2025. You still have 2026 and the years to come to finish what you started and walk the path of your choice. The end of the year is the perfect time to practice self-compassion to acknowledge your struggles and joys and prepare for the new year with calmness and resilience.
5 self-compassion practices for the end of the year
Here are five unusual but workable practices to help you practice self-compassion:
1) Marie Kondo your digital space
A big fan of a very famous Japanese technique KONMARI, founded by Marie Kondo, who is the author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. Since reading this book, I often think and wonder if it brings joy to my life, will it matter in 6 months and helps me declutter and organize my thoughts next to my house 🙂 Delete the app you haven’t used on your phone, delete the unnecessary account and protect your information and privacy. Delete this contact and delete the conversation you keep coming back to, delete this number. Unsubscribe and unfollow content overload in the form of social media accounts, blogs, podcasts, etc. even if it’s a lot, I don’t mind.
2.) Gratitude snapshot
Choose one yes just one photo of your best moment of 2025, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many solid choices, but it’s obviously important to remember what really matters. Print the photo and put it on your desk, on your mirror, or anywhere you can see it often. A memory you are truly grateful for, right before your eyes.
3.) Compliment yourself out loud
There is no shame in patting yourself on the back or giving yourself credit for things you do and mountains you move without anyone noticing. We often indulge in negative self-talk and analyze our lives with all the possible horrible ifs and buts, when it comes to things we have accomplished, we are too humble to admit that yes, it was hard, but I did it and I am proud of myself. Go tell it!
4.) Check limits
Boundaries allow you to protect yourself from the whirlwind of life, rather than leaving you with feelings of exhaustion or resentment. It helps you prioritize what does and doesn’t serve the purpose, what could or wouldn’t work without you. The end of the year often brings social pressures, family obligations or work demands. Practice saying no when needed: Prioritizing your own mental and emotional well-being may mean dropping events or tasks that drain you, and that’s okay.
5.) Sensory grounding jar
Buy a cute vase, fill that vase with objects that soothe your senses, such as a soft fabric, scented beads, a smooth stone, small photos, dried flowers, tiny trinkets, or whatever you combine. These sensory objects provide a tactile anchor to calm your nervous system, giving a physical connection to peace. When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, holding or touching an object and focusing on its texture, weight, or scent will help you feel grounded.
In the end, I would say that ending the year with self-compassion is about acknowledging the challenges and life choices we’ve encountered this year and opening up to self-care. Try to incorporate these five practices over the next few days and notice the shift: from anxiety to presence, from fear to grounded calm, from self-criticism to kindness.
No matter what happened this year, you are worthy of peace, care, and the quiet joy of simply being. Choose one or more of these practices this week and notice how they change your energy, mood, and presence.
