We’re stepping into the final stretch of 2025. One more turn of the calendar page, and suddenly we’re counting in days instead of months. And if you’re anything like many of the people I’ve talked to lately, you might be asking the same quiet question:
“Where did this year go?”
Maybe you’re feeling a little unsettled right now.
Maybe you’re thinking, “I should have done more.”
Or, “How is it December already and I’m still not where I want to be?”
Or even, “I wasted so much time this year.”
If that’s you, pull up a chair. Let’s talk.
A Little Self-Check
Before anything else, I want you to pause and answer these questions, not for me, but for yourself.
- When you think about 2025 ending soon, what comes up first: pressure, sadness, frustration, gratitude, relief?
- Do you feel behind? If yes, behind what exactly? A goal? A standard? Someone else’s timeline?
- If you feel unproductive this year, is that a fact… or a feeling?
- And here’s the big one: What are you afraid will happen if you “run out of time”?
Take a breath. Notice your answers. There’s no judgment here, only awareness.
Why We Feel This Way (It’s More Normal Than You Think)
This time of the year has a way of shining a flashlight on everything unfinished. The mind becomes a highlight reel of “should haves” and “could haves.”
But here’s what decades of HR work and coaching have taught me:
Most people are not actually unproductive. They’re just too focused on what didn’t happen.
We rarely give ourselves credit for the quiet wins.
- The resilience we built after a setback
- The days we showed up even when we didn’t feel like it
- The responsibilities we handled that weren’t even part of our plans
- The survival in seasons that didn’t go according to script
You might have carried more this year than you realize.
Let’s Process Those Emotions Together
If you’re feeling like time is slipping away, here are a few possibilities.
- You had expectations for 2025 that didn’t happen.
That’s not failure. That’s life reminding you to update the plan, not abandon it. - You underestimated how much energy this year required.
Productivity isn’t only measured by output; it’s also measured by recovery. - You’re comparing yourself to an ideal version of you.
That version was imagined without interruptions, setbacks, illness, responsibilities, or real life. - You’re holding yourself to a standard no one else is demanding from you.
Sometimes the pressure is self-authored.
These feelings aren’t good or bad. They’re clues. They tell you what matters to you. They show you where you want to grow.
So… Are You Running Out of Time?
If your answer is “Yes, I feel like I’m running out of time.”
Here’s my gentle nudge:
Then let’s use the time you do have, wisely. Not perfectly. Wisely.
If your answer is “No, I don’t feel that way.”
That’s great.
It means you’ve built habits, rhythms, or a mindset that creates spaciousness. Now the invitation is to maintain it and help others around you feel it too.
Practical Things You Can Start Today
Here are simple practices that can create meaningful shifts:
- One-Thing-Per-Day Rule
Pick one meaningful action. Just one.
You’re building a chain of progress. - Rewrite the Narrative
Instead of “I didn’t accomplish much this year,” try:
“Here are the things I handled that no one saw.”
Your brain listens. - Honor the Season You’re In
Not every year is meant for breakthroughs. Some years are meant for foundations.
A Parting Thought
You are not late.
You are arriving.
The calendar doesn’t get to decide your worth, your pace, or the significance of your year. Whether 2025 felt full, heavy, quiet, chaotic, or slow, every season teaches something. And, every ending makes room for the next beginning.
And if you ever feel that whisper of “I’m running out of time,” remember:
Time is not something you chase.
It’s something you choose.
