It’s a time of year that requires us to adjust our beautifully planned schedules to accommodate more – more gatherings, more to-dos, more deadlines, more activities.
Of course, this requires time. And since we don’t get gifted any additional hours, we have to find ways to make the most of what we already have.
Post-Thanksgiving and Pre-Monday, I was feeling on top of the world – relaxed, thankful, and enjoying the slowness of the long weekend. And then it was back to the laptop, and with it – the pile of extras that the holiday season brings both at home and work.
It reminds me of running out to the garbage can on a frozen winter evening without a coat 🥶 and then sprinting back in the house to begin to thaw. If I had taken a mere 30 seconds to throw on a coat, I would have been spared the misery of the freeze fest.
Is there anything we can do TODAY to avoid the metaphorical chill of the holiday busyness so we can experience the joy of the season?✨
Yes! We’re going old school with a holiday Kanban board. So grab your sticky notes and let’s go!
Holiday Kanban
- Ask yourself, “what do I need/want/must do this month?” and write down every little thing that crosses your mind – work, home, personal, family.
- Find a blank wall, door, or kitchen cabinet and divide it into 3 sections, labeling each one – To-Do, Work in Progress, Done.
- I take all my work-related sticky notes, and put them into my normal work system.
- Then, I line up the remaining items under To-Do and move the first thing I’ll tackle into the Work in Progress column. Pro tip: Don’t allow more than 3 things in this column!
- When you finish an item, move it to Done.
My board is nowhere near Pinterest-perfect, but it’s done! And it allows me to take advantage of small moments I have each evening where I can take action instead of feeling burdened by the to-dos of the season swirling in my head. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
