As a proud Double Duck and Mama Duck to my older son Joey, it was fun to tour my favorite college campus with my son Sam this past week.

After a difficult football season, we love our Ducks! Several years ago, the football team adopted a motto that they see in the tunnel each time they take the field:

“Win The Day – Fast. Hard. Finish.”

It inspires our players to keep up their intensity and athleticism on the field until the very end. Duck athletes have a lot to be proud of when they take this motto onto the field and into life.

What might this mean to you applied to this time of year? Are you up for making your best effort for all the year end activities and demands of the holiday season, taxes and other December deadlines? It’s a lot to contemplate let alone do. And if you try to do it all, you may pay a price with your wellbeing.

Can we do it all this holiday season? Should we try to? I think it all comes down to priorities. Right now take these steps:

  • Look at your calendar through December 31st. Are there any work related or personal obligations or events that you could decline or defer? I know, it’s hard to do this but your wellbeing is at stake here.
  • Block out time for events and activities you want to engage in by December 31st. Protect this time fiercely. Say, “I’m sorry but I have a conflict at that time. Would [offer 2-3 other options] work?” Or, “We are not accepting new clients at this time. Please contact us after January 15, 2023.”
  • Make lists of everything that needs to be done at work and at home by December 31st.
    • Can any of these tasks be declined, delegated or deferred? If so, do so!
    • Put the list items in order of importance.
    • Consider merging and comparing the lists for areas of conflict and overlap.
    • Keep the list in a prominent place for easy reference and update it weekly.
  • Next Level: Add time blocks to your calendar for doing the tasks on your work and personal lists. This may result in blocking out nearly all your time! That is ok as long as  self-care and family time is included. Time blocks keep it real.
    • Try working on an important projects or task during a Focused Work session with no interruptions from email, phone calls, instant messaging or uninvited guests. Say, “I’m busy now but I could talk with you after 3:00 pm. Please contact my legal assistant and they will be happy to schedule with you.”

Still unsure what to do or where to start? Tried on your own but to no avail? Coaching can help! Contact me by December 31 to reserve at 2022 rates. My fees increase annually on January 1st. Hope to hear from you soon! heather@tbcoaching.com or 503-734-7232