How Should I Spend My Time During the Final Days of the Year?

If you squander this time now, you’ll regret it later.

Christians love to debate the final days on Earth, but few Christians discuss the final days of the year. Effective time stewardship is crucial during the last days of December because the way you spend this time will influence how you begin the new year. If done well, you’ll start 2025 with a burst of energy and enthusiasm. But if done poorly, you may start the new year feeling sluggish.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts on effective time stewardship for this time of year.

1. Enjoy extended devotional time.

Why not linger longer in God’s presence through unhurried Bible reading and prayer? Since the holidays naturally allow you to slow down, it’s also a good idea to slow down and enjoy more extended devotional time.

2. Have someone else preach on the last Sunday.

It’s too late now, probably.

But if you can swing it, have someone else preach on the last Sunday of the year. You’ve done a lot of work leading up to Christmas. Take the last Sunday away from the pulpit.

3. Plan your rest.

In his article, Rest Takes Work, Tim Challies writes about a time he “messed up over the Christmas holidays.” Challies writes:

“It was only as the weekend came and I faced the prospect of the end of the holidays that I understood the mistake I had made. It was only then that I remembered that I need to plan my rest as much as my work. It was only then that I remembered that I rest best when I rest according to at least some kind of a plan. I just don’t have the instincts or the self-control or the character to make something when I’ve planned nothing.”

We assume resting will naturally come easy to us because, after all, there’s not much to it. It’s resting, for crying out loud. How hard can it be to rest? Well, turns out it’s very hard, especially for those of you who labor in the Western part of the world where individualism and work tend to be idols. Challies is right: rest takes work. It also takes thoughtfulness and planning.

Determine ahead of time what energizes you, and schedule time around those activities. For me to feel rested, I need to recharge spiritually through time with the Lord. I also need good books, quality sleep, time away from technology, and time spent outside. I’ll plan my rest time around those activities.

4. Finalize your goals.

The new year often brings more motivation. Leverage that motivation toward strategically written goals.

Although your worth derives from your union with Christ, goals are a practical way to hold yourself accountable, aim for greater achievement, and push yourself. If you’d like a basic primer on goal-setting, see my post How to Write Goals: A Practical Guide.

5. Reflection and gratitude.

The last days of the year are a good time to reflect on the year that was. If you don’t stop to think about all the good things that happened, it’ll be hard for you to learn the skill of living in the moment. Write down a list of your accomplishments. Create a gratitude list. Spend a little extra time lingering in thankfulness in prayer. Don’t let the stress of in-laws and traveling stop you from giving thanks to our God and King who is worthy of ceaseless praise.

6. Read energizing material.

And it doesn’t have to be Christian books, either.

Read material that energies you. Prioritize books over online content.

7. No meetings or appointments.

Don’t accept appointments or meetings, and, if possible, bless your staff with the luxury of working from home for the week. The last week of the year is perfect for breaking up regular rhythms and spending more time at home.

8. Plan the preaching for the next year.

Having your preaching schedule lined up for at least 3-6 months is ideal. Some pastors prefer up to a year. Getting ahead on your preaching schedule will relieve stress down the road.

9. Family time.

Spend extra time with family. If your kids are home for an extended Christmas break, you will be tempted at some point to display unrighteous anger. There’s a reason why “Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again” is a memorable Christmas song lyric. Pray for wisdom and love to be present for your family, and make the most of the time with them.

The last days of the year are amongst us. Use this time to slow down from your regular rhythms, but effective rest will take work and planning. If you squander this time now, you’ll regret it later.