Have a Stress-Free Holiday Season: Stay Accountable to Your Goals 

The last quarter of the year brings two things for women: excitement to do all the fun holiday-themed activities with family and friends, and stress about getting it all done, and maintaining their personal and professional goals.

You can have health goals you want to maintain during the holiday season, revenue goals you are pushing to meet, staying within your financial budget and not overspending, or maintaining boundaries and keeping your emotional and mental health a priority. Your goal is important to you, so do not lose sight of it just because there is so much going on. Let’s calm the holiday chaos while staying accountable to your goals. 

Break Big Goals Down Into Smaller Action Steps:

If you already have a list of goals you are working on in Q4, then the next action step is to break them down to reduce your overwhelm. Your goal is important to you, so do not lose sight of it just because there is so much going on. What are the key tasks that will move your business forward? Focus on these and let the rest fall away.

Take your Q4 goal and break it down into each month of the end of the year.

All your Quarterly Action Steps should lead to progress on your GOAL!

Schedule Time for Your Goals in Your Planner

It’s easy for your schedule to get packed with family events, holiday parties, and last-minute shopping trips, but your goals deserve time too. Time management is everything to keep it balanced. Plan your workdays around holiday events by creating a flexible but intentional schedule. Set aside non-negotiable work time for priority tasks and leave room for the inevitable holiday surprises. 

Block out specific times in your calendar for business tasks and personal goals to maximes productivity, just like you would for any other holiday commitment. Schedule your goals in your planner!

• Schedule each Action Step from above into each week of your planner.
• Consider the day and time of day that it is happening.
• Set time blocks or schedule like-things on the same days so that your brain is not switching from task to task all the time. (Meetings on Mondays, content on Tuesdays, Etc.)

A to-do list is great, but if something is written in your planner, the only thing left to do, is to do it! This is your extra layer of accountability. 

Set Realistic Expectations

The holiday season is different from the rest of the year, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re not hitting your goals at 100%. Acknowledge the season you are in. Just because you did all the things last year, doesn’t mean you have to do them all this year if your mental capacity is tapped. Adjust your expectations and focus on progress, not perfection. 

Progress on goals is about consistency, not overloading yourself with pressure to do it all. 

Even with a busy schedule, take 5-10 minutes to review your progress on one business or personal goal. Reflect on what you’ve achieved so far and brainstorm a small next step you can take to keep moving forward, even if it’s tiny. 

• Create a habit tracker in any notebook to keep yourself accountable
• Automate what you can
• Prioritize tasks 
• Review and adjust goals as needed

Lean on Accountability Partners

Accountability is key during the holiday season. When motivation dips, having someone to check in with can make all the difference. Whether it’s a coach, spouse, friend, or colleague, talking through your goals regularly will keep you focused, even when distractions are everywhere.

If your goals are written down in your planner, and you ask someone to check in with you, you are committed to maintaining your personal and professional goals!

Celebrate Small Wins

Don’t wait until the end of the season or New Year to celebrate when you progress on your goals! Recognize and reward yourself for the small milestones you achieve along the way. This keeps your motivation up and helps you maintain positive momentum through the busy season. 

My favorite ways to celebrate small wins:

• Write them down in a journal 
• Make my favorite dinner
• Going for a family walk in nature (being outdoors energizes and replenishes me)
• Post on social media if it’s appropriate
• Tell my best friend

If you’re ready to stay accountable and finish the year strong, let’s do it together! Working with an accountability coach gives you the support, structure, and encouragement to stick to your goals, even during the busiest times. 

Apply here for a free discovery session today, and let’s create a plan to keep you moving forward. 

Apply Here.

Supporting your goals sister, 

Alicia