Confession: I never set seasonal goals in Q4!
Reason: Aug/Sep was a dumpster fire and I was too busy putting it out.
And so it goes! That’s okay. Thankfully, the Nested Goals system is forgiving of such lapses. Really, I think “Put Out Metaphorical Dumpster Fire” was actually my primary goal even if there was no list, and it did happen, so hooray! And now, I am excited to do some thinking about this season!
(I did plan out October, though I was in a wildly ambitious frame of mind and did not take into account that one needs A MINUTE to recover from Dumpster Fire months before jumping into 24827 new things. And we had also had a smaller fire (Mini Trash Can Flame?) pop up in October, so that took some bandwidth too. It’s okay though! Some months will be more ‘on plan’ than others and I fully accept that.)
I chose some different domains than usual, as Q5 is a different sort of season (more on that on Monday’s BLP)!
REFLECT + REST
- Carve out my OWN intentional planning time for 2025 (I love helping others plan and will be doing a lot of it — but I can’t actually do my own planning at the same time, so I need to make sure I designate the time and space to do it! Will be using the BLP 2025 workbook, just not while I’m leading others through it 🙂 )
- SLEEP 7+ hours as many nights as possible. October wasn’t a great sleep month. I can and will do better. I really need 7+; a rare exception is fine but routinely getting less than that makes everything else feel impossible.
- NO REDDIT. I am happy to say I have been off again since I made the deal with my kid (I guess I really don’t want to give anyone $10, sorry kids). As usual, I feel weirdly happy to be “free”.
- FIND SOME COZY HOLIDAY FUN. Not all holiday fun has to be . . . active. I want to watch some movies and lie around in cozy outfits.
CELEBRATE
- PLAN something worthy of Josh’s upcoming milestone birthday
- PLAN G’s bday (definitely easier but still important!)
- CELEBRATE and enjoy holidays with family
- GET GIFTS EARLY so that it feels fun rather than a source of stress/obligation
CONNECT
- Practice presence when celebrating / traveling / spending time with family. I WILL be working while visiting my family (see #4). But I want to plan the days so I can be totally OFF when I am off.
- ORDER HOLIDAY CARDS early so that this feels fun rather than a source of stress/obligation (theme here!)
GENERATE
- Write every day. Yes, every day. An hour or more is ideal. 1000 words is a reasonable goal. (This is in my writing project, not counting blog / podcast / Patreon / newsletter stuff. Note: this means fitting in writing on clinical days, generally in the evening. I do not love this schedule as a forever thing, but for a one-month thing it’s fine. It’s 12 total days this month – 1 down, 11 to go!
- STAY AHEAD of content calendar (podcasts, really). THE CONTENT MONSTER WILL SPIT ME OUT AND EAT ME ALIVE during the holidays if I let it – meaning, I must get ahead because multiple episodes will be due for processing and I’ll end up in a sweaty tearful heap next to my microphone. I KNOW this is something I need to get ahead of but historically have not always been terribly strategic about it (what can I say, I like recording just a few days before air time – it feels more fun that way!). (This is ALLLLL BLP, because Laura ensures we do not leave BOBW down to the wire!)
- Finish marathon training + generate a good effort in December! I guess really I’m hoping to generate a BQ with sizable buffer — I’d love to run the race in 2026! (But if I can’t achieve that in December, there will be more chances. I have learned that training through summer/fall in FL is really hard. Heat becomes the limiting factor in every sustained higher effort, and I think that diminishes the training effect compared to training through winter/early spring. Hope I prove myself wrong!)
EVENTS & BIG THINGS COMING UP IN Q5
BLP LIVE! (NEXT WEEK!! I’m very excited!)
THANKSGIVING (a cold one this year)
JOSH’S 50th BIRTHDAY. JUST . . WOW. I feel this requires epic levels of celebration BUT I’m not entirely sure it will all be confined to Q5
G’s 7th BIRTHDAY (this doesn’t even seem right but it is, 2024 – 2017 = 7)
BLP at HOME (the December sessions)
JAX MARATHON
BIG SKY / SKIING
DUE DATE #2 FOR WRITING (out of 3 main pieces of draft)
Small things: 35834 soccer games, decisions to deal with related to school next year, a call week
Just wow Q5. I guess it’s go time!
15 Comments
50!!! big number! what’s the celebration plan? Gift? I am hoping to get inspiration for my husband’s upcoming birthday too. hahah.
I always have a mid-October urge to write a list of “BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR!” which is driven by panic rather than thoughtful reflection. I hear you on not loving the evening working, but needs must. I try not to work tons in the evening or weekends, but my son is at a Scouts sleepover for the next 24 hours, and starting next week without grading hanging over my head will feel so much better. So I’m writing (report due first thing Monday AM) and marking while my husband handles the house stuff and makes me cups of tea.
Not gonna lie – I’m exhausted just reading this list. But it sounds like you’re entering this stretch of time with enthusiasm and clear goals so gold stars to you!
Milestone birthday’s are exciting!
You have an exciting quintile ahead of you! Milestone birthday! How fun! I am hoping we can go on a trip for our 50ths. Like you, my 40th happened during the pandemic, plus I had a 2 month old. So it passed without fanfare.
I am excited for the last 2 months of the year. We also have a bday as my youngest turns 4!! Very excited to be getting closer to the elementary school years which are my fave so far. I just love this time of year so much with all the holiday lights and decorations plus the family celebrations.
You have a LOT on your plate this month! What does Josh want to do for his birthday? Glad all your fires are put out- that was a long and stressful period for you. (And remember- I TOLD you it wouldn’t be forever!) : )
Wow, you have a *packed* Q5. But it also looks like it contains plenty of fun so I hope rather than feeling overly busy that it is s source of energy and joy.
I am feeling especially depleted today not sure why. Is it bad that the idea of leaning into cozy holiday stuff, planning something for husband’s 50th, and holiday cards give me an inordinate amount of stress just thinking about them. Last year my husband turned 50, and guess what we did: nothing. Scratch that — I went to Puerto Rico by myself because I am tired of planning everything for everyone else only to have everyone whine and complain. And cozy holiday stuff basically means me thinking of gifts and activities for everybody and telling other people what I want and then ultimately buying it for myself or being disappointed bc apparently nobody can follow instructions. Yesterday I told my dad who I rarely speak to anymore what to get Dylan for Xmas. You know what his response was? “What else.” I am done. I am boycotting the holidays.
Wow, that is quite a list! I think writing it all out helps manage it but it sometimes also makes you realize how much is on your plate! I still do it, but I find the list can get pretty long sometimes! 50th birthday is a big deal. I don’t know what I will do for mine but I still have a few years to decide!
You’re definitely some kind of superstar, because your lists are always so ambitious. Do you have more hours in the day than other people? LOL
I love to hear that you will be running the JAX marathon after all. Sounds like your training is on track to go for a PR.
And then, the big 5-0 for your husband. Do you have any great ideas to celebrate? I am curious.
I actually do not think a PR is likely but ill be happy with anything even close!
I feel like my list is more about a lot on the calendar than ambition, but I agree it’s a lot!!
I read your list and ordered my holiday cards in the next hour .
Just one thing I wanted done in a sea of busy times!
That is amaaaaazing!!!!
Hah! Honestly it’s a procrastination strategy. I chose between cleaning the house, completing private school applications, and ordering cards 😂.
These are great goals and a good reminder that to-do’s do not have to be boring– put JOY on the list! My cards are done and ready to be mailed, but I have not bought a single solitary gift **yikes face**
I think if your cards are DONE you are ahead of the game!!!!!