The Festivity Freefall
Y’all. I need to tell you something, and you might brush it off because it’s still warm outside… but February will be here before you know it.
“Don’t be silly, Hanna,” you might say. “February is 4 MONTHS away!”
Trust me; they’re the fastest four months of the year — between now and then, we’ve got Halloween & Día de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, the Winter Light holidays, New Year’s, and let’s not forget the election (which I hope will be a reason to celebrate! Don’t forget to vote!).
It’s a sleigh ride through time; if you’re not careful, you’ll wake up on the other side of it a little dazed and a lot overwhelmed.
But guess what? You can set your new year up for success right now by taking a little time to think ahead to what you’ll need at the start of 2025 before the Holiday Haze descends. Give your future self the gift of setting things in motion now so that when the Tinsel Tornado deposits you in January, everything’s in place to make you look and feel like a forecasting mastermind.
If thinking four months ahead doesn’t come naturally, here are four key strategies to help you launch into the new year smoothly and successfully:
1. Flashback to the Future
Got any major projects or deadlines looming in the first quarter? My accounting clients know they’ll be slammed with year-end closings, and many businesses need to prep for audits or tax returns. Here are a couple of questions to help you give your future self a head start:
What can you do now to make sure that process runs smoothly? Prioritize those actions because the Jingle Juggernaut gains momentum fast.
Do you need to sync up with your team or schedule workdays to power through tasks? Lock those in on your calendar now so you won’t have to fight for availability later.
2. Sync Your Squad
The holiday season allows many of us to disconnect from work and spend time with loved ones. But returning to work from that can be a bit of a bummer, so it’s wise to carve out time for your team to reconnect and share holiday experiences. Ask yourself:
Is your team remote? If so, make sure you don’t miss this chance to bond. Schedule a couple of hours just for team connection.
Is your team in the office (at least some of the time)? A half-day teambuilding event could be a better fit. Mix in some fun, a bit of sharing, and a dash of professional development to keep the team tight in the new year.
3. Schedule Your Sanity
Does your calendar fill up with so many meetings that you don’t have time to get your actual work done? Now’s a perfect time to protect your future self by setting some recurring holds in your calendar, so next year’s resolution to be less overbooked is already half-won. Here are a few of my favorite calendar hacks:
Admin Mondays: I dedicate Mondays for meetings with my team and block off the rest of the day to catch up on work I can’t fit into 30-minute chunks (like writing this newsletter!). Plus, having a free day gives you flexibility when rescheduling becomes inevitable.
Post-meeting holds: Got recurring meetings that always leave you with a list of follow-up tasks? Schedule 30 minutes to an hour after those meetings to knock out those action items right away. Future you will be thrilled!
4. Bankroll Your Success
As Q4 kicks off, many leaders are working on next year’s budget. It’s the perfect time to build in support — both time and dollars — to help you make 2025 your best year yet. A few things to consider funding:
Team building: Great teams don’t just happen — they’re built. Whether it’s quarterly meetups for your virtual team or bi-annual retreats, it takes planning and investment to level up.
Strategic planning: Whether you’re mapping out the year or a 3-year vision, the best planning happens with a skilled facilitator (and we get booked early!). If you’ve been coasting on an outdated vision, now’s the time to budget for a refresh.
Executive coaching: Supporting your leaders with coaching is a powerful way to boost engagement and signal their importance to the organization. Got a leader who’s ready to level up? Or maybe a group that could benefit from team coaching?
So, what will you do this month to avoid that year-end whiplash when the Yuletide Vortex finally spits you out? Hit me up at Hanna(at)RingmasterConsulting.com with your plans — or if you need help making any of this happen!