How to set boundaries
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If end of year planning always feels stressful, rushed, or impossible, you’re not alone. December has a way of speeding up just as we need the most breathing room. Everything becomes “Let’s circle back in January,” and suddenly preparing for the new year ends up at the bottom of the list.
But here’s the truth:
If you wait for January to give you clarity, you’re already starting behind.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the five most common excuses that keep busy women from preparing for a new year — and the very real consequences of believing them. You’ll learn why these patterns show up in December, what happens when we delay clarity, and how to begin planning your next year now, even when life feels full.
If you’re ready to step into 2026 with intention instead of overwhelm, this episode will help you start your end of year planning with confidence.
And if you want step-by-step support, I’ll point you toward the free Rested & Ready Private Podcast that’s designed to help you begin — even when you don’t feel ready.
Key Takeaways
- Why “Circle Back Season” makes end of year planning harder
- The five excuses that leave you feeling behind in January
- The consequences of delaying clarity
- Why planning your year is a “Must Do”
- How the Rested & Ready Private Podcast helps you get clear
The Five Excuses That Derail Your End of Year Planning
1. “I don’t have enough time.”
December is full — deadlines, school events, holiday prep, family logistics, and invisible tasks at every turn. It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll have “more time later.”
But here’s what really happens:
You step into January in survival mode, not intentional mode.
January isn’t magically calmer. It brings the same responsibilities as December — minus the holiday sparkle. Waiting for “more time” usually means starting behind and struggling to catch up.
2. “I’ll think about that in January.”
January looks calm from far away… but once the calendar flips:
- Everyone circles back on the things they pushed from December
- Projects and commitments resume all at once
- Kids head back to school — or don’t, thanks to weather
- Energy dips because of less daylight
- Urgency kicks back in immediately
If you push planning to January, you hit the ground running without direction — and spend the first quarter trying to get ahead.
Most of the time, “I’ll think about it in January” becomes “I guess I’ll think about it in March.”
3. “I’m too busy right now.”
You probably are.
But here’s something I want you to remember:
Every yes is a no to something else.
When you say, “I’m too busy to plan,” you’re often saying yes to everyone else’s urgency — and no to the clarity that would help prevent next year’s overwhelm.
And here’s the truth that might sting a little:
You might be too busy right now because you stepped into 2025 without a plan or clear boundaries.
Without clarity about what deserved your yes, and what needed a no.
Planning your year now — even for a few minutes at a time — opens the door to a year that feels purposeful instead of packed.
4. “I can’t think about 2026 because I’m overwhelmed by 2025.”
If you’re overwhelmed by loose ends, unfinished tasks, or the heaviness of this year, planning ahead can feel impossible.
And the consequence is big:
You bring the mental clutter of 2025 straight into 2026.
It’s like moving into a beautiful new home… while packing up old trash, broken items, and junk drawers and bringing them with you. You can move in — but it won’t feel peaceful.
That’s why the first step in planning isn’t setting goals.
That’s step five.
Step one is clearing mental clutter.
This is exactly why I created the Rested & Ready Private Podcast. In seven short, power-packed episodes — plus a printable action guide — I help you clear your mind, understand your season, and create space so clarity can finally show up.
5. “What’s the point of setting goals if everything changes anyway?”
This one comes from uncertainty, not lack of motivation. The world feels unpredictable, and planning can feel pointless.
But choosing not to plan doesn’t create safety — it creates powerlessness.
One of my Academy members recently told me her husband may accept a job that would move their family from the U.S. to France. She said, “How can I plan 2026 when I don’t even know where I’ll be living?”
I asked her:
“What do you know will be the same? What do you still have ownership of?”
Even in uncertainty, there are anchors:
- Your values
- Your routines
- Your health
- Your priorities
- Your relationships
- How you want to feel
Planning isn’t about predicting the future — it’s about grounding yourself in what stays steady.
A flexible plan gives you direction, ownership, and stability — even when life shifts around you.
The Awareness That Changes Everything
These excuses don’t mean you’re failing — they mean you’re overwhelmed.
And overwhelmed women deserve clarity, not shame.
Awareness gives you the power to change the pattern.
Start by noticing which excuse shows up for you the most. Naming it is the first step in shifting it.
Episode Links + Resources
- Rested & Ready Private Podcast Series: abouttimepodcast.com/ready
- Rested & Ready Virtual Retreat: abouttimeretreat.com
Related Episodes
- Ep. 248 – FInish What You Started: How to Reach Your Goals by the End of the Year
- Ep. 125 – Crossing the Finish Line: Why You Need Accountability to Achieve Your Goals
- Ep. 107 – Get SMART: Why Goals and Good Habits Beat New Year’s Resolutions Every Time
- Ep. 105 – Live and Learn: My Biggest Mistake of 2021 and Why I Won’t Skip Goal Setting Ever Again
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