It’s Q4. Before You Push Harder, Check In With Yourself
So apparently Q4 is lock-in season. Every time I open my phone, someone is telling me to get in the gym, make more money, and finish the year strong.
And listen, I love a good goal. I’ve got some exciting things I’m working on before the year ends too. But before we all go into full-on lock-in mode, how about we pause for a minute? Pressing pause gives you a chance to actually hear yourself. To slow down, breathe, notice how you’re feeling, what you need, and whether the things you’re giving your time and energy to still feel right for where you are now. So, if you’ve got 5 minutes, here are five things to check in on before you lock in.
Your energy and emotional state How have you been feeling lately, both emotionally and energetically? What’s been giving you energy, and what’s been draining it? Is there anything you’ve been carrying, avoiding, minimizing, or simply haven’t had much space to process?
Your current capacity
What do you realistically have room for right now? Not what you think you should be able to handle, but what your life, mind, and body can genuinely hold.
What do you need more of? What do you need less of? What could you use more of in this season of your life? Maybe it’s rest, connection, structure, fun, movement, quiet, creativity, or challenge. And what could you use less of? Think about the commitments, habits, expectations, pressures, or responsibilities that you might be ready to reduce, pause, simplify, or let go of.
Your priorities What matters most to you for the rest of the year? Have your priorities shifted since January, or do they still feel aligned with where you are now? What do you genuinely want to give your time, attention, and energy to over the next few months?
How you want the rest of the year to feel Beyond what you want to accomplish, how do you want to experience these next few months? Maybe you want more joy, ease, connection, adventure, confidence, laughter, or peace. What would help you bring a little more of that into your life before the year ends?
You might realize you’re actually exactly where you want to be and nothing needs to change after you answer these questions. Or maybe you notice a few things you want to shift. Either way, I hope you give yourself a little room to move through the rest of the year in a way that feels good to you.