Before Breakfast January comes right after December
Dec 16, 2025
The host highlights how the mental slip between December and January can lead to missed deadlines. Paper calendars contribute to this illusion, making planning feel distant. Personal anecdotes about January birthdays reveal the need for early planning. Tips include calculating lead times and adjusting project timelines for smoother transitions. Building reminders in advance can counteract the January surprise, ensuring a smoother start to the year.
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Year Breaks Distort Time Perception
- Calendar boundaries can create a false sense of distance between late December and mid-January events.
- Recognize weeks across year breaks as continuous to avoid underestimating lead times.
Post-Christmas Birthday Planning Pitfall
- Laura Vanderkam shares that her two kids have birthdays right after Christmas and she often delays planning their parties.
- She notes booking in-demand spots requires reserving five to six weeks ahead of time, which conflicts with the year break illusion.
Schedule Pre-Holiday Reminders
- Put planning reminders on your calendar before the holidays for tasks due in early January.
- Treat mid-December as the lead-up for mid-January deadlines and schedule actions accordingly.