Steps to help year end be the most wonderful time of the year

It’s peak holiday music time and the songs get stuck in all our heads. “The most wonderful time of the year” has been running through mine on a constant loop for a week. I’m not sure if it is stuck there, or if my subconscious has decided to make it a mantra, as if my brain is trying to convince me this is the most wonderful time of the year. 

The end of the year is filled with stress and the list of things to do feels endless. We have all the tasks associated with wrapping up the year, closing deals, finishing up client work, reviewing financials, offering bonuses, planning raises, making tax payment decisions, getting invoices out, collecting payments and on and on, and preparing for the next, like building your budget, kicking off new clients, starting a new marketing campaign! And that is only the business to-do list. Let’s not forget about all the personal items on the list – attending end of year gatherings, preparing for the kids to be home for two weeks, planning travel, gifts, meals. SO MUCH.

If “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” is a theme song for this time of year, why are we all running around with our hair on fire trying to get so much done? 

What do we need to do to actually make this “the most wonderful time of the year?” 

As a business owner, it’s hard to think about how to make this a pleasant time – especially if your business is cyclical and this is its peak. Owning a business is a lot of work, and the end of the year is no easier than any other month. 

Let’s stop for a minute and breathe.

I’m not going to tell you that you don’t have to do all the things. If you are like me you would prefer to not do all the things, but ultimately you get joy from a good many of them. 

I’m going to tell you to breathe and take notes.

As you go through the coming weeks, take note of which things you did over this “wonderful time of the year” that gave you joy. Take note of the things you did over the end of year season that frustrated you or that you could have put off until the new year. Take note of the things you did over the holidays that did not need to be done at all and you do not want to do ever again.

Write it down.

Make a commitment. 

Not sure you can hold that commitment until next November? Enter it into your calendar the week before Thanksgiving next year. Create a calendar entry that you will not be able to miss that lists the things you are going to focus on and the things you are going to ignore or jettison.

It’s your business. It’s hard to run that business. If you find things you don’t need to do, then make a note, and do not do them again. 

Perhaps removing or delaying just one thing on your list will in fact make this a more wonderful time of the year.