Trick or Treat: You Decide

Trick or treat! Today many of us will be hearing little feet shuffle at our front doors followed by a knock or a doorbell ring, and perhaps most notably an exuberant question veiled as a greeting — “Trick or treat!?!”

Welcome to the beginning of the end — of the year, that is. Following American tradition, Halloween is a sort of de facto kick-off to the holiday season marked by fun, excitement, decorations, and indulgence. It’s also the beginning of “crunch time” as we approach the end of the year. Feelings of angst and anxiety usually creep upon us around this time, as well. Why is that? Usually, it’s because we’ve done a mental assessment of all that we have left to do and have limited resources to do it. Be it time, money, or some combination of the two, for most of us, there’s typically just never enough to go around. While it’s understandable to feel stress this time of year, it doesn’t have to. You can either trick yourself into following the same patterns as in years past, or you can go out with a bang and make this year-end season a special treat for you and those you love.

It’s easy to miss the forest for the trees, but believe it or not, you’re in the best place possible to tackle the end of 2022. It’s all thanks to a leadership principle called “mindfulness.” Simply being aware and attentive to what’s going on around you, your feelings, and your mental blockers will help your better prepare to handle challenges as they come. You won’t be caught off guard because you are ready to tackle anything that comes your way.

Mindfulness is a wonderful practice to carry into every part of your life, especially if you seek to better understand yourself as a leader. But mindfulness alone isn’t enough. Awareness must come with some action. And what is action without a plan? Instead of rehearsing what needs to be done in the next 60 days to close out the year, try jotting down as many things that need to be wrapped up before year-end as you can. Then begin organizing them into major groups. Lastly, begin prioritizing them in order of importance and urgency. Now that you’ve planned your work, it’s time to zone in on your unique action plan.

You’ll find that taking a moment to think through what lies ahead and not allowing yourself to get worked up or feel emotionally overwhelmed is helpful. Write it all out. Every insurmountable task will start to feel like it’s within reach. You’ll find that this simple exercise can eliminate a great degree of uncertainty and stress from your life. More importantly, it creates a springboard and foundation for a successful 2023. You are, in effect, jumpstarting your next level of success by forming positive habits that free up your time – and give you back your peace.

Apply these mindfulness techniques to other parts of your life, including your finances, and you’ll begin to see wonderful things take place. Be proactive and enjoy the end of your year, especially the holiday season. It can either be a trick or a treat, but the good news is that YOU ultimately decide what happens tomorrow based on the choices you make today.