10 Essential Things to Do at the End of Each Month

Months absolutely fly by and it can be hard to keep track of where one month ends and the next one begins. Creating some structure to really define the end of one month can help you stay on track with your goals and productivity.

Everyone talks about how to start a new month and, while that’s great, there are things to do at the end of each month that are just as important! In fact, the way you spend the end of your month directly affects how you’ll start the next one!

These are the best habits to start at the end of every month!

10 Things to Do at the End of Every Month

End your month right every time with just 10 simple steps.

1. Make a Memory List

Starting off with one of the happiest things to do at the end of a month: reflect on the great times!

This is something that I started implementing just a few months ago actually and I am already enjoying the benefits of it. It is so much fun to look back and remember the great memories of a month that you may otherwise forget.

Writing out good memories also helps make you feel happier and positive… and that’s how we want to end a month!

2. Have a Self Check-In

Some questions to ask yourself at the end of each month:

• What went well this past month?
• What didn’t go so well?
• Did you accomplish your goals?
  • If so, how?
  • If not, what held you back?
• Looking back now, would you do anything differently?
• What lessons did you learn this month?
• How is your mental health right now?
• Physical health?

These little check ins are one of the best things to do at the end of a month. They allow you to assess and evaluate the past months events: pros, cons, challenges, and wins!

This step is essential for making a plan for how you can proceed in the next month. I try to start this in the final 2-3 days of the month so I have a little bit of time to reflect and devote my attention to how to move forward!

All of this takes me right into the next thing you should do at the end of every month…

3. Set New Goals

This is often included in posts about how to start a new month… technically this counts as part of starting a month but it is also a huge part of ending a month.

I personally prefer to set new goals at the end of every month so I can hit the ground running as soon as the new month starts!

Not only does this help me direct my focus, but it also motivates me, inspires me, and gets me excited for the coming weeks!

When I am setting new goals at the end of the month, I focus on three main categories:

• Personal
• Financial/Work
• Mental Health
• Physical Health
• Relationships

Setting new monthly goals is a great way to refresh and inspire new motivation.

4. Have a Financial Check-In

This works perfectly with the last end-of-the-month to-do if you have set some clear financial goals!

It’s important to stay on top of your finances, no matter how much you may dread it! At the end of each month, take some time to look at your expenses, your accounts, your budget, etc.

After looking into your finances, you can really evaluate your spending habits!

Do you need to save some more money? Pick up a side hustle for some extra cash?

OR

Are you right on track with your financial plan? Do you have some more wiggle room? Maybe time to move some money into savings?

{RELATED POST: 12 Everyday Swaps to Save Major Money}

After your end-of-the-month financial check-in, you have a good idea of where you’re at and how to proceed into the next month!

5. Tidy Up

In as many areas as possible… TIDY UP!

This is an insanely helpful thing to do at the end of each month. A cluttered and disorganized life is just not a peaceful or productive life!

It is super natural for things to get out of hand as the days pass… especially when you’re running around doing a million different things! Things are bound to get messy!

That’s why an end-of-the-month clean-up is essential.

(Tip! I try to make a tidy part of my Sunday Reset Routine every week so this isn’t so daunting at the end of the month.)

Doing a full life organize and tidy is not only a great way to start a new month, but an incredible way to wrap up the previous month! A clean slate!

{RELATED POST: 20 Organizational Products Every Woman Should Own}

Tidying extends beyond your house too! Computer files, email inbox, purse, car… Clean it all out, girl!

6. Self-Care

And while we’re talking about decluttering and tidying, we can’t forget to ditch our mental clutter too!

Self-care is an end-of-the-month habit that I have just recently started getting super routine about. Take it from me, it makes a huge difference.

At the end of a month, you deserve a total refresh! You’ve worked hard!

Dedicate a night at the end of every month to a self-care night! Or, better yet, dedicate an entire day to self-care at the end of each month!

In order to fully complete a month and start a new one successfully, you have to include some good ol’ self-care on your list of things to do at the end of each month!

7. Express Gratitude

“The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now.” – Oprah Winfrey

Yup. What Oprah said… it’s TRUE!

A Harvard study has actually found a direct link between expressing gratitude and being a happier person. Yes, that seriously means that some simple gratitude at the end of each month can play a role in making you happier overall.

Now, I do my best to practice gratitude more than just at the end of the month. I actually TRY to make it part of my morning routine (or night routine, depending on when I have more time!), but sometimes I miss my daily gratitude.

HOWEVER… I NEVER allow myself to miss my end-of-the-month gratitude. On the last night of the month, I will sit down with my trusty gratitude journal and go to town!

There are tons of gratitude journal prompts online if you prefer to freehand it! But I have always preferred a standard, prompted gratitude journal! It’s always been my jam!

8. Strengthen a Connection

Life can get so busy that you forget to take the time to show your loved ones how much you love them!

I always make it a goal at the end of each month to reach out to at least one person in my life that I don’t normally talk to. This could be a simple text, a phone call, or even a coffee date!

This end of the month habit helps to keep my relationships strong and forces me to stay on top of my social health. I can get into the bad habit of isolating but this helps me remember to be socially present!

9. Focus on a New Habit

This is similar to setting new goals but a bit different too. Goals are often an end result…

“Get promoted”, “Save X amount of money”, “Achieve X thing”

But HABITS are the small everyday things that get you there. I like to focus on ONE habit every month. It may not seem like much but I find that when I focus all my attention on ONE new habit, I am much more successful than taking on MANY habits at once.

Since it takes roughly 21 days to kickstart a habit, focusing on one per month is perfect.

To see a HUGE list of good habits to adopt, check out my post about 50 good habits to start!

10. Celebrate!

Saving the best thing to do at the end of each month for last on this list!!

Let’s CELEBRATE the end of the month!

You’ve worked your way through another month! That’s something to celebrate! Pour yourself a glass of fancy wine, make your favorite dinner (or go out!), have a relaxing night, do whatever YOU enjoy the most!

Take some time to really enjoy life at the end of every month. After all, what’s the point if you’re not having fun?! Celebrate the little things!!

End every month on a high note with these 10 things to do at the end of each month!