As 2025 comes to an end, many of us instinctively begin to reflect on what we’ve achieved. These reflections often lean on societal metrics and unspoken expectations, making it easy to feel like a failure academically, financially, or career-wise. Maybe you wrote out bold resolutions at the beginning of the year, and now, looking back, it feels like they were nothing more than wishful thinking.
But the truth is: the end of the year is not the end of life.
If you didn’t hit your targets this year, you can decide to try again tomorrow. If you feel pressured to accomplish everything before December ends, don’t forget: 2026 is coming, and so are the years beyond it. Don’t place yourself under pressure that slowly eats at your mental health.
We often pretend to be fine, but small worries — especially around results, expectations, and perceived failures — can quietly spiral into depression or even suicidal thoughts. And in our society where silence is normalized, people carry heavy emotional loads alone. But it is okay to talk. Speak to someone you trust. Seek therapy if you need it. Reaching out is not weakness; it is wisdom.
It’s also important to measure your progress with the right metrics. Know yourself. Understand your path. When you have a genuine win, you should be able to recognize and celebrate it. Being clear on your personal direction helps you avoid comparison and helps you build from a place of healthy motivation.
If you take a moment to truly introspect, you might realize you made more progress than you initially thought. And if you still feel like you didn’t, then ask yourself: What standard are you measuring against? Where did that standard come from?
Sometimes it feels like you’re running out of time or falling behind, but before concluding that your year was unproductive, pause and check whether your goals were ever realistic in the first place. Did they align with your skills, relationships, and resources at the time?
As you plan for 2026, remember to set SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. This matters because poorly set goals can quietly unsettle your mind, stir anxiety, and trigger discouragement. Purposeful, grounded goals, on the other hand, support your emotional well-being.
If 2025 didn’t unfold the way you hoped, shift your focus back to what is within your control. Start working toward those things now and carry that intentionality into the coming year. Don’t beat yourself up. As long as you’re alive, there is still so much hope.
Wake up tomorrow and choose to try again. Don’t give up. You need your energy for the journey ahead. And on days when it gets heavy, speak to someone, cry if you need to, and rise again.
You are enough. And you’re not running out of time.
By Princess Nwaobi