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5 Ways to Get Ahead of the Holiday Hustle (Before It Starts)

Imagine it’s mid-December.  Your calendar is packed, your to-do list is endless, and you’re running on fumes. Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be that way this year.

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🎄 Imagine it’s mid-December. Your calendar is stacked, your to-do list is never-ending, and you’re running on fumes. End-of-year work deadlines, family traditions, holiday shopping, maybe even travel — every day feels like a scramble.

Sound familiar? Friend, it doesn’t have to be that way this year.

That’s why I created the Take Back Your Time Challenge: Stress-Free Holiday Edition. Registration is officially OPEN, and in this post (and episode!) I’ll share five practical steps you can take right now to create a holiday season that feels calm, clear, and intentional.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why waiting until December guarantees holiday chaos
  
• 5 stress free holiday planning strategies to use now
  
• How the Take Back Your Time Challenge will help you step into the season with clarity and peace

Step 1: Get Clarity Now

What do you actually want this holiday season to look and feel like?

Not the Pinterest-perfect version, not your mom’s version, not your neighbor’s version — yours.

Take 10 minutes to jot down your top 3 non-negotiables. Maybe it’s family dinners, candlelight service, or downtime after work.

✨ Without clarity, everything feels urgent and equally important. With clarity, you finally know what deserves a “yes” — and what gets a guilt-free “no.”

Step 2: Plan Ahead Before the Whirlwind

By the time November rolls around, weekends are already gone. School programs, work parties, travel — every square inch gets filled. That’s Parkinson’s Law in action: your calendar will expand to fit whatever gets thrown at it.

For example: my parents and brother’s family live 4 hours away. Every year, we lock in a Brunch with Santa near their home in October. If we wait, it won’t happen.

✨ Think of it like a puzzle: you start with the edges first. Anchor the big things now, so the smaller things have a place to land.

Step 3: Protect Your Energy

Holidays drain us when we say yes to everything. That’s why it helps to pre-decide boundaries. Maybe you only commit to one big event per weekend. Or maybe Sundays are your non-negotiable rest days.

Here’s the kicker: when your energy is low, your decision-making suffers. That’s decision fatigue. By December, you’ll default to the easiest choice — overspending, overcommitting, or overindulging.

✨ Planning now means you’re making thoughtful decisions, not desperate ones. Protecting your energy keeps you from burning out before the real fun even begins.

Step 4: Create Simple Systems

The word “systems” can sound intimidating — but simple is key.

Maybe it’s a gift checklist in your Notes app. Maybe it’s a Sunday night routine. Maybe it’s as small as deciding what to do with holiday cards when they hit your mailbox.

Will you:

• Open them weekly and stick them on the fridge?
  
• Pin them daily to a bulletin board?
  
• (No judgment) Toss them straight in the trash?
  

✨ A simple system saves you from reinventing the wheel — and from piles stacking up on the kitchen island.

Step 5: Don’t Do It Alone — Get Support

Even with clarity, plans, and systems, most women try to white-knuckle it. The result? Stress creeps back in.

✨ We need accountability, encouragement, and guidance. That’s exactly why I created the Take Back Your Time Challenge: Stress-Free Holiday Edition.

About the Take Back Your Time Challenge

From October 20–24, we’ll spend 5 days together creating your stress-free holiday season.

Each day at 12 PM Central, I’ll go live with a short, actionable training to walk you through these exact steps. You’ll also get printable worksheets, daily action steps, and access to a pop-up community so you never feel alone.

Why Join Now?

• You’ll shorten the struggle (instead of figuring it out alone).
  
• You’ll avoid burnout before December even starts.
  
• You’ll protect your energy, budget, and calendar.
  
• You’ll actually enjoy the traditions that matter most.
  

✨ This challenge is worth thousands in value — but I’ve priced it under $100 because I want this to be the season you finally feel calm and confident about your time.

Join the Challenge

If you’re ready to finally step into the holidays with clarity, peace, and presence — this is your moment.

👉 Save your spot today at abouttimechallenge.com.