Manage Your Time Wisely the Holidays are Fast Approaching

The End of 2026 Is Here!

Here we are, moving into the last three months (well, you can say three since October just started), and it is time to review your progress yet again. In doing so, keep in mind that this is a critical and extremely busy time of year for most of us. It is what I call the "dreaded, yet often fun-loving holiday season." Think about it: these last three months have at least one major holiday in them, and with holidays come undue and unexpected stress. Not to mention time-consuming "Today List" tasks that are specific to preparing for the holidays and emotional highs and lows. It is enough to make you want to throw in the towel and forget about any and everything else

Warning Sign!

As creative beings, we have to be careful not to let this time of year become so overwhelming that we put not only our own well-being but also our personal goals on the back burner. Being mindful of this means that we still need to prioritize, ensuring that we put ourselves first throughout these stressful times.

Put Yourself First

The professional side of putting ourselves first is not forgetting our personal goals and plans. We have to keep moving forward; it just may be in a slightly less demanding way.

Professionally, this first week of October is a good time to take a breather from the "work of working through your goals" to update and/or revise them. This will help you not only see the progress that you have made so far but also determine what goals are most important for you to achieve by the end of the year.

For a lot of people, this time of year brings with it extra errands, event planning, driving from place to place, extended family time, and everything in between. That leaves little time to work on personal professional projects. This is why choosing only those that are most important is how you ensure that you remain as stress-free as possible. That is how you Put Yourself First! Use this first week as a time to reflect on where you are right now, then plan for the end of the year.

Suggested questions to ask yourself while reflecting on your progress:

• What have you accomplished?
• What are you still working on?
• What have you removed?
• What do you need to add?
• How do you plan to end this year?

Remembering that the holidays are underway, be sure to only choose those that are most important by asking yourself:

• What goals are a priority?
• What goals can wait until the beginning of the year?
• What goals can I accomplish before Thanksgiving and/or Christmas that are less stressful?
• How can I fit my professional/personal goals into the extra added responsibilities the holidays bring without sacrificing my sanity?

Once you have spent some time looking at things from the professional standpoint, stop and think about how you can Put Yourself First Both Mentally and Physically. This may be a good time for a "Self-List." If you have read the article about creating a "Today List," then you know what a "Self-List" is and how I sometimes use it as a mental or written list of things that I am Just Not going to do! I also use it as a way to ensure that I do things that are just for me. While it is good to keep pushing through your goals, keep in mind that it is okay to take a break and relax your mind, body, and soul as well.

With that said, limiting the number of goals you place on yourself this time of year should help you keep stress down to a minimum. It would be beneficial to replace them with a little "me time." Take a nap, go for a walk, meditate, read, watch some TV, or do anything that allows you to rest. And if you have to add it to your "Today List" or create a separate "Self-List" to ensure it gets done, then do that too.

Let Go: "I'm Dropping All These Plans"

I know that planning and sticking to goals can be difficult at times and understand that staying focused while moving through everyday life is also challenging. That is why I have learned to allow myself room to "let go" of the responsibilities of working toward my goals with such fervor that I find myself burnt out.

Instead, I take small steps toward achieving a goal and allow space to take a day or two not to work at all. I have found that this process works for me because, once I am rested, I work more efficiently when I jump back in.

I share my journey in hopes that you will find a nugget or two of helpful/useful information that you can use in your professional and personal journey. And while on that journey, remember to find ways to NjoyPeace throughout the process.

This article is also published in my "Intimation Messages" newsletter on LinkedIn (10.06.26), on my "LYLT Expressions" newsletter on Medium.com, and on "LYLT Expressions" on Substack (8.10.26).

~~ Glorious Raine