Notes from Neen: Holiday Strategies to Stay Sane in the Silly Season

You might have heard me refer to this time of year as my “silly season.” It’s a term we use for the spring and fall in my calendar when travel feels ridiculous, client conferences and events are at their peak, and weeks whiz by!

What a whirlwind of a few months it’s been: between serving so many wonderful clients, flights, hurricanes, writing and submitting my manuscript (and I even snuck in a week’s vacation when my baby sister came to visit from Australia!) — oh and all of a sudden it's the holiday season, my favorite time of year.

All of it’s left me feeling happy, but maybe a little tired? Maybe you feel the same? Does this feel like your silly season too?

This time of year can feel like a scramble to finalize proposals and projects before Thanksgiving in the U.S., or the holidays in other parts of the world. My clients have made it through budgeting season and trying to tie up initiatives for this year and already finalizing calendars for 2025. There is a lot of pressure on this time of year personally and professionally.

During this time we attempt to juggle multiple work commitments and add all the extra curricular activities of the holiday season too. It’s easy to find it overwhelming and exhausting.

What if we reframed the silly season to the sane season?

What if this year we decided to approach it with a sense of curiosity instead of chaos?

What could you take OFF your plate instead of adding ON?

How could you help your team navigate the silly season so they could feel more sane?

We still want to finish strong and meet our targets, delight our clients, and have a great sense of accomplishment for all the hard work — but maybe we need to cut ourselves some slack and really just focus on what is MOST important.

Remember EVERYONE wants your attention, not everyone deserves your attention.

This is a great time of year to get very intentional about your attention. Understand that your energy is contagious — it’s even more important as a leader to bring your best energy to work to stand in service of those in your team who need you.

We have been working with our clients and team and curiously asking:

• What events (or meetings) could you decline instead of accept?
• What projects could be deleted instead of completed?
• What subscriptions could be ignored instead of invested?
• What are you doing out of obligation that doesn’t add value or align with your goals?
• Could you give a team member the gift of time by canceling an unnecessary meeting or report?
• Could you change your in-person weekly meeting to a bi-weekly virtual catch up?
• Could you make a reservation at a restaurant instead of creating a catch up at home?
• Could you use a caterer instead of cooking?
• Could you leverage a personal shopper at a department store or a personal concierge to assist you with holiday preparations?
• Could you agree with your loved ones to donate to charity instead of exchanging gifts?
• Could you offer your time and talent as a team for a deserving community during the holidays?
• Could you trade time with other parents for pick ups and events?

What strategies are you working on this silly season? I'd love to know — drop me a dm! ?

Like this content? Did you know that provide even more great tips to help leaders navigate their challenges and wins to my newsletter subscribers? Be the first to read Notes from Neen, my bi-weekly newsletter, where I share content like that, as well as practical recommendations and more bonus content! Sign up?here.