Prepping for the Final Two Months of the Year

Why is it that at a time of the year when our bodies want to slow down, society has us speeding up?
This is the question I’m asking myself as we enter the final two months of the year.
I’m sure it’s not just me who feels like you’re supposed to make so many things happen before the year’s over:
- wrapping up loose ends at work
- getting through the holidays
- visiting
- traveling
- crafting
- baking
- caroling
- volunteering
- cheersing
- skiing
- snow man making….
…and if you’re not doing these things, you might feel guilty, or experience FOMO for those who seem to be doing them all, and doing them well
I never seem to get all of what I was thinking done before December 31st.
There’s a certain pace that must be kept if your year-end to do list is ambitious. You complete things, but at what cost? Is it really worth it?
What if this year you took a page from one of my favorite little books, The Underachiever’s Manifesto by Ray Bennett, and took things down a notch, lowered the bar, and called good enough, good enough? I can already hear the protests, and even louder, the sighs of relief.
No one says you have to do all the things you think you must, but somehow you probably feel like you’re supposed to. This year, be discerning about what truly needs to get done and what you really want to accomplish, and set your sites accordingly. My hunch is you’ll end the year feeling a lot less breathless, and a bunch more satisfied.
I encourage you to make a list of all the things you think you want or need to do in these final two months of the year.
Review the list with a keen eye. Ask yourself if it’s really, truly, absolutely necessary that you complete each line item.
If it does, keep it on the list.
If it doesn’t, cross it off.
Keep paring down your list. If there are more that 5 things on the list, you still have too many. See what else you can cross off, delegate, or push to 2024. The final two months of the year have enough already!
If you enjoyed this, you’ll probably appreciate Managing Your Energy at the End of the Year.