4 Creative Exercises to End the Year – Me Ra Koh

Today is about setting you up to finish the year strong with 4 Creative Exercises to End the Year!

It’s hard to believe we are in the last days of the calendar year.  I often find myself in deep reflection during the last week of the year, as I’m sure many of you do.  While many people make resolutions to get back to the gym, eat better (after the holidays did us ALL in), take the dog for more walks … I find myself looking for ways to restart my creative spirit.  I’m excited to share some of my favorite, creative exercises to end the year (so we’re ready to start the new one with gusto!).

You can do these creative exercises by yourself or get the whole family involved.  Some have an inspirational twist for you and the kids.

1.   Tie it to a Tree

You can do this alone, with your spouse or as a family.  Take a few minutes to write down any fears, worries, stresses, doubts that are weighing heavy on your heart with the upcoming year.  It can be questions you need answers to.  Debts you want to pay.  Relationships that trouble you.  Write it all down, put it in a ziplock bag, and then tie it to a tree.  “Tie it to tree?” you ask.  Yep.  Go find a tree in your neighborhood, backyard, or woods, and tie your list to a tree. 

There is something powerful about letting something else symbolically hold all our fears.  Maybe you’ve done this exercise in a similar way, but you burn the list instead.  That works too.  But I often feel like the doubts, fears and worries are all still there, even though the list has burned away.  That is why I love the idea of a living thing holding my troubles.  Tie your burdens to a tree in your own yard or nearby.  It’s powerful to revisit this paper, even a week or two later, and see how your troubles have begun to transform.

2. Edify, Reflect and Forecast

This is my ALL time favorite New Year’s Eve tradition. With our family journal, we write down three things about each family member.

Edify

We each think of three things we admire about the child/parent.

Reflect

We share three ways we’ve seen the child/parent grow in the last year.

Forecast

We share one thing we are excited for them to experience in the new year.

3. 4 Minutes New Year’s Tradition

In my bestselling book, 4 Minutes to Hear God’s Voice, there is a chapter on how our family sets the timer as a New Year’s Day tradition. Each family member gets their own turn. We set the timer for 4 Minutes and ask God to give us words, pictures, songs, verses that connect to what the new year has for that person.

What always takes me by surprise is what the kids have to share. A child’s perspective on the past and future is one of the most precious, faith-building gifts of all. Their innocent hearts often see into the future more clearly than we do. I’m often left speechless. Everything we share is written down in our family journal to be enjoyed for years to come. Some of these written treasures have taken us to the other side of the world.

CLICK HERE to get the book and learn how to do 4 Minutes with your family!

4. Write a Letter to Yourself

This is one of the most powerful creative exercises I’ve ever done.  It’s so simple, and yet it will give to you in ways you can’t imagine.  Find a few quiet moments, and write a letter to yourself for the New Year.  Write down everything you want yourself to know, to remember, to be encouraged by.  Share any comforting words you wish someone would say to you.  Write down hopes and dreams you don’t want to forget.  The ideas are endless, but the mission is simple: Write to you what you need to hear. 

When you are done, put it in an envelope, stamp it and mail it to yourself.  It may seem silly, but you will be pleasantly surprised at how much this letter gives to you when you open it in the New Year.  I’ve done this a number of times.  In feeling overwhelmed with all the unknowns ahead of us, I sit down and write a letter of hope to myself.  You can read about one of my letters here; To Those Who Worry, Fear and Doubt.

5.  Bang Those Pots and Pans! (little bonus)

Toss the pen and paper aside, and pull out the pots and pans.  Bang away when the New Year’s Eve countdown begins. Run down the midnight sidewalks and holler and hoot! Depending on the age of your kids, they will either remember this as the funnest sixty seconds of the year or they will opt out (“because sixth graders don’t really want to do that with their parents and little brother” says my daughter).

Want more fun exercises to restart your creative spirit?  Check out my annual, online course RESTART YOUR CREATIVE LIFE.  We begin mid January.  You can either register as a Full Participant or pay half price and to Shadow the course.  I can’t even tell you how many women have found creative breakthrough with this course.  Start the new year strong and join us!

Click Here to Get Details and Register

Happy New Year to All You AWE-MAZING Moms!  Enjoy these creative exercises to end the year!

I will meet you on the other side!

xo,

m