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Do you typically wait until the last possible minute to plan for the holiday season? Nobody needs that kind of stress in their lives. 

The holidays come around the same time every year, yet many of us fail to learn from last year’s mistakes.

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can choose to move differently this holiday season. Better yet, you can use this season as a test run for planning ahead for the next year.

I’ve got a few reminders that will help you plan for the holiday season and beyond.

 

Make room to look back. Every year, my mother would keep a list of the Thanksgiving dishes people loved and the ones pushed to the side. The following year, she was equipped with a list of dishes that were worth her time and effort to prepare. 

You will save yourself so much stress and frustration by reflecting on what worked last year and what is no longer worth your energy. Something that helps me is keeping track of my thoughts throughout the year. At the end of the year, I review my notes and pull out anything that is still relevant to my life. Make the time to look at where you’ve been so that you can plan for where you’re going.

Plan for your future. Do everything you can to beat the Thanksgiving rush at the grocery store. Before heading to the store, list everything you’ll need for the big day. When you get there, throw in your headphones and dance down the aisles if you have to. Just get to the store before everyone else makes it there.

When you get home, get your family involved in the unpacking. And if you don’t do anything else, practice your dishes ahead of time. Don’t wait until the day of to make sure your recipes work. 

In the same way, don’t won’t wait until 2024 to plan out your hopes and dreams for the new year. The slow moments of the holiday season are the perfect time to map out your plans.

Invite people in for support. If you don’t want to spend time baking a dessert for Thanksgiving, order one from a bakery. If you have too many dishes to prepare, consider coordinating a potluck with your family so that the pressure is not all on you.

You don’t have to do any of it alone. You don’t have to prepare a holiday meal alone, and you don’t have to navigate life alone. It’s all about putting the key people in position to bring the vision to life.

Even if you’re more spontaneous, planning out your goals can put you and those around you at ease. I hope that by doing so, you’ll have peace even in the most hectic moments. And remember to reflect on the lessons of this year as you move into the year to come.

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Making room to look back.
  • Planning for your future.
  • Inviting people in for support.

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Let’s Talk!

  1. What recipes are you planning to try this Thanksgiving?
  2. How do you plan to reflect on this year?
  3. What are your plans for the new year?

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