Surefire Ways to End 2025 on a Strong Foot

How are you doing out there, friends?

Mid-December and 2025 is quickly drawing to a close, but not without some holiday cheer first. Here are some simple ways to have fun this holiday season and still start 2026 on solid ground.

1. Start Each Day With a Protein Anchor

Starting your day with protein and fibre will help keep your energy and mood steady, but it won’t make gingerbread men, sugar cookies, or lemon loaf disappear.

Even with a good breakfast, you might still want to devour a gingerbread man or two. The key is just not to have them as your only breakfast, or, if you do, to have an omelet too!

Keep breakfast repeatable and straightforward:

• Eggs with spinach or leftover vegetables

• Yogurt with berries

• A smoothie with protein powder and frozen fruit

• Leftover turkey, chicken, or meatloaf with veggies

Action:

Pick one breakfast that works for you and have it most days. Decide on it the night before. That’s all you need.

2. Shrink the Moment (Don’t Fix the Whole Day)

December overwhelm can stem from trying to get too much done in a short time. Compartmentalize and focus on one task at a time.

• Clear one counter

• Prep vegetables for the next meal

• Step outside for a five-minute walk, even if you feel like you can’t spare it.

Action:

Ask yourself, “What’s one small thing that would make the next hour easier?”

Do that one thing, then stop.

3. Embrace Imperfect Walking

December might not be the best month,h for hitting 10,000 steps every day, keeping streaks, or turning walking into another thing you must do without fail.

Imperfect walking means:

• Walking without a goal

• Walking for 5 to 15 minutes

• Walking in regular clothes and without a weight vest!

• Walking when it’s grey, rainy, and not that appealing.

• Walking 10 minutes one way and 10 minutes the other.

Action:

Walk everywhere you can.

4. Use Music as a Reset Button

When you’re low on energy, music can boost your reserves fast!

Action:

Make a short reset playlist and use it whenever your energy or mood is low. Update frequently. Share it with family and friends. Things get overplayed so fast!

5. Let “Good Enough” Count

Right now, being consistent matters more than what was done.

What good enough actually looks like:

• A 20-minute walk instead of no workout.

• Eggs and toast with carrots

• A green smoothie with protein powder and a gingerbread man.

Action:

If you find yourself thinking, “I can’t be bothered,” do something instead of nothing.

6. Notice What You Did Do

With so much happening in December, it’s easy to focus on what you didn’t do and overlook what you did. This version does not require journaling!

Action:

At the end of the day, pause for 10 seconds and name one thing you managed, like sending a pending email, making dinner, getting outside, or hitting a gym workout!

High five yourself! You are an amazing December trooper!

Empower Skillet

This simple, high-protein, and fibre meal cooks the pasta right in the sauce, which I love! Yes, you read that right, pasta. A cup or two served over steamed broccoli or with a big salad does the trick. Kids love it.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 lb lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken

• 4 cups of vegetables of choice, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 4 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp basil

• Dash red pepper flakes (optional)

• 3–3½ cups low-sodium bone broth (or water)

• 1 cup milk of choice

• 1 cup tomato sauce

• 16 oz small pasta

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

• Optional garnish: parsley or red pepper flakes

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and all vegetables; sauté for a while, then add ground meat, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until cooked through.

Stir in tomato paste, paprika, oregano, and basil. Cook until well mixed, not long.

Add broth, milk, and tomato sauce. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil.

Add pasta and cook, uncovered, stirring fairly often so pasta does not stick, becomes tender, and most of the liquid is absorbed (10–12 minutes).

Remove from the heat, stir in the cheese (if using), and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Easy Tweaks

Dairy-free: use plant milk, skip cheese

Gluten-free: use GF pasta

Vegetarian: swap meat for lentils or another plant-based fave.