On aspirations being too ambitious

Top of Mind 11.30.23

Barbara Mighdoll @NewModernMom

Nov 30, 2023

“You can do anything, but not everything.”

- David Allen

Currently….

We're in the final sprint of the year, a month filled with never-ending to-do lists, holiday celebrations, work deadlines, late-night shopping, family travel, plenty of coffee, and spirited drinks. It can feel overwhelming, even for the most organized among us.

I started to realize that maybe my aspirations for this month are a bit too ambitious. Can you relate? It was time for a pause and some thoughtful life planning.

In an effort to declutter my mind, I made a list of all the things to be done, categorizing them as "personal" and "professional."

Next, I used the "start-stop-continue" framework to prioritize each category. I asked myself: What impact does this have on my goals? What can I postpone until after the holidays? What can I delegate? What can I cancel? This helped me determine which plans and projects were truly important.

At the top of my list (and I highly recommend this for you too) is self-care. I've been incorporating some simple morning wellness into my routine, like 15 minutes of exercise while listening to a podcast, quick 5-minute makeup, and a protein-packed breakfast. During the holidays when overstimulation is at its highest, the more vital it becomes to protect our daily rituals.

Then I reviewed our calendar with my husband. By aligning on dates for events, travel, childcare and deadlines, we can navigate this busy time more smoothly as a team.

Every Sunday night, I plan to implement the 3-3-3 method and schedule out my week. This reflective exercise helps me understand my limitations. To be honest, there are days when the method will become 2-2-2, or just 1-1-1. But understanding this ahead of time allows you to set crucial boundaries.

Here are some strategies I'm using to simplify tasks:

Attending a social gathering? Grab something from the Trader Joe's frozen aisle like Fried Olive Bites, Pastry Pups or A Dozen Macarons instead of homemade treats.
Have big projects with looming deadlines? Delegate components to your team. The key here is setting clear expectations on the outcome, not telling them how to do it.
Dealing with tedious tasks at work? Consider hiring a virtual assistant from Fiverr. I just found one I started working with and it's a game-changer for time optimization.
Don’t know what to wear for an event? Lean on capsule wardrobe pieces to mix and match closet staples. No need for a new outfit for every occasion.
Laundry piling up? Ask your local moms’ Facebook group for cleaner recommendations.
Need to holiday gift shop? Skip extensive research and choose a hand-picked gift from one of my gift guides. BTW did I mention they are officially live?! You can find them below ⬇️

I know it seems daunting, but the pause in daily action to run your own strategic planning session will be worth the benefit. Because you may be able to have it all this month, but you certainly can’t do it all. Cheers to hoping we can fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the season.