Closing the Year with Intention: Priorities, Progress, and the Power of Pause
Welcome back to the Koi Wellness blog, your trusted resource for child development, empowerment, and community connection. I’m Aya Porté, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Koi Wellness.
As we approach the end of the year, I find myself reflecting—on the families I’ve supported, the lessons learned, and the moments that reminded me why I love this work. The final months of the year often bring both gratitude and fatigue, as we try to balance family, school, and personal well-being.
Before diving into new goals for next year, I invite you to pause and look back: What worked? What surprised you? What are you proud of—no matter how small?
Reflection isn’t about tallying achievements. It’s about honoring growth, adjusting direction, and giving ourselves permission to rest.
Revisiting Goals—and Celebrating the Wins
Throughout this year, I’ve met so many parents and educators who have redefined what “progress” looks like.
For some, it was helping their child regulate emotions more calmly.
For others, it was advocating with confidence in school meetings.
And for many families, it was simply finding a rhythm that felt less rushed and more connected.
Each of these moments matters. These are the quiet wins that shape long-term growth.
In my own practice, I’ve also grown—expanding my consultations to include not only parents but also occupational therapists seeking mentorship and collaboration. These partnerships have been some of my favorite moments this year. And as we move into the new year, I’m excited to share more opportunities for community learning, professional connection, and inclusive support through Koi Wellness.
The Holiday Season: A Lesson in Time and Energy
December often asks us to do the impossible: finish projects, attend events, make memories, and somehow stay grounded through it all.
It’s easy to get swept into the holiday current and feel like there’s not enough time. But as I’ve learned—both in my work and personal life—how we organize our time shapes how we experience it.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned came early in my career, from a mentor who introduced me to Franklin Covey’s “Big Rocks” analogy, inspired by The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
The “Big Rocks” Analogy: Organizing What Matters Most
Imagine you have a glass jar and a table full of rocks, pebbles, and sand. Your goal is to fit everything into the jar.
If you start with the sand—answering every email, fulfilling every small request, juggling every minor task—there’s no room left for the big rocks: your core values, family, self-care, and long-term goals.
But if you place the big rocks first—the non-negotiables that truly matter—everything else can settle around them. The smaller tasks (the “sand”) fill the spaces between, not the other way around.
This simple but powerful visual changed how I think about time. It’s not about fitting more in—it’s about fitting in what matters most.
Applying It to Family and Self-Care
For families, the “big rocks” might look like:
Family dinner without devices
Unstructured playtime
A nightly routine that promotes calm rather than chaos
For caregivers and professionals, they might be:
Protecting one evening a week for rest
Saying no to one extra commitment
Scheduling time to recharge, not just time to work
Because when we make time for ourselves, we model balance for our children—and give our “team” (at home, school, and work) permission to do the same.
Self-care isn’t indulgence. It’s sustainability. It’s how we ensure we can continue showing up with empathy and patience—for our kids, students, and communities.
How to Organize Your “Big Rocks”
Here are a few steps to help you realign your priorities as we close out the year:
List your absolutes.
What are the non-negotiables that align with your values and bring peace to your household or work life? These are your big rocks.Identify your energy drains.
Which small tasks take more time or mental space than they should? Can they be simplified, delegated, or postponed?Build from the inside out.
Schedule your big rocks first—then fill in the smaller pieces of sand (emails, errands, extras) around them.Revisit weekly.
Life shifts quickly, especially in multicultural and family-centered environments. Reflect regularly and reset your priorities as needed.
Final Thoughts: The Gift of Time
As I prepare for 2026, I’m deeply grateful for every family, educator, and therapist who’s joined this community.
In the new year, Koi Wellness will be expanding consultation offerings—including dedicated sessions for occupational therapists seeking mentorship and reflective practice support.
We’ll also be sharing more resources for families navigating transitions, routines, and school collaboration, so that no parent or provider feels alone on their journey.
And of course, our mission remains the same: to empower children and caregivers through compassionate, culturally aware, and neurodiversity-affirming care.
As we close this chapter and prepare for the next, remember: time isn’t something to manage perfectly—it’s something to live with intention.
Start with your big rocks—your values, your family, your health, your joy. Let the smaller things fall where they may.
When we lead with clarity and compassion, even the busiest seasons can feel spacious.
Thank you for being part of the Koi Wellness community this year. I’m wishing you a peaceful close to 2025—and a purposeful start to the year ahead.
If you’d like to reflect, reconnect, or plan for the new year together, you can learn more about Parent Consultations or OT Collaboration Sessions—and stay in touch through Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Together, let’s make space for what matters most.