#342 - How to Uncomplicate Your Holiday To-Do List
Nov 27, 2023
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Learn how to simplify and prioritize your holiday to-do list in a kind and grounded way. Discover tips on approaching and organizing tasks, managing time effectively, and creating holiday magic.
Break your December to-do list into five weekly lists using index cards to focus on one week at a time and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Simplify large tasks or categories into manageable steps by strategically placing them on corresponding week cards, leading to a less overwhelming holiday to-do list.
Deep dives
Uncomplicating Your Holiday To-Do List
The podcast episode discusses a step-by-step process to uncomplicate your holiday to-do list. The host advises listeners to break their December to-do list into five weekly lists using index cards. The goal is to assign tasks to specific weeks, ensuring appropriate urgency and order. By visualizing the tasks in this way, it becomes easier to focus on one week at a time and avoid feeling overwhelmed. The host shares their personal example of how they categorize holiday tasks, such as choosing and wrapping gifts, decorating, and creating holiday magic. This approach helps prioritize tasks, set realistic expectations, and simplify the holiday season.
Using Index Cards for Organization
The podcast episode highlights the effectiveness of using index cards for organizing and visualizing tasks. The host suggests writing each week of December on separate index cards and placing them across a surface. Then, writing down the unusual events and activities happening in each week on additional index cards. The host emphasizes the importance of simplifying large tasks or categories into manageable steps. By strategically placing the category cards on the corresponding week cards, individuals can easily see which tasks to focus on in a given week, leading to a less overwhelming holiday to-do list.
Creating Weekly To-Do Lists
The podcast episode guides listeners in creating weekly to-do lists based on the categorized tasks. The host advises making separate to-do lists for each week, including the categorized tasks that are specific to that week. By focusing on one week at a time, individuals can prioritize and complete tasks without feeling overloaded. The host encourages flexibility and adjusting the to-do list as needed, while maintaining a realistic approach to accomplish what matters most during the holiday season.
Uncomplicating Holiday Magic
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of creating holiday magic while avoiding unnecessary pressure. The host suggests reserving specific weeks or time periods for activities that contribute to the overall holiday magic experience. By doing so, individuals can release the expectation of constantly creating magical moments throughout the entire holiday season. The host recommends being mindful of differentiating between general holiday vibes, which can be experienced daily, and unique holiday events or traditions, which can be scheduled in specific weeks. This approach allows for a more enjoyable and stress-free holiday season.
December is a unique month, and therefore, you need to approach that month and your long to-do list in a way that feels kind and human and grounded and like yourself. But also where you get it all done, at least all the things that matter.
I share this episode with Kind Big Sister Energy, meaning I think this works, and I think it could work for you, but as with anything I ever say, do what works for you. If this doesn’t, don’t do it.