The holidays are coming! (Oh, my!)

I know. It's not even Halloween yet, for pete's sake! How can I possibly be talking about the holidays? Go to any mall and you will see that, not only are Halloween decorations on clearance, Thanksgiving items are already being discounted to make room for the Christmas displays. Holiday movies are being advertised. I have neighbors who will be putting up their Christmas lights in just a few short weeks. Personally, I would really love it if we could at least have Thanksgiving before we are bombarded with Christmas.

So why, you ask, am I bringing this up on October 25? It's simple. Every year, I see clients getting derailed by the holidays. They get stressed. They get frustrated. They feel pressured to "be happy," or to buy gifts. They put their goals and dreams on hold. For some of them, this is a time of profound loneliness.

I don't want that for you.

It is not too early to think about your outcome for this holiday season. A little preparation in advance will pay off big time in the next few weeks. Create your personal plan following these simple steps:

1. Get clear on your outcome. What do you really want for yourself this season? What is most important to you? What do you want to focus on most over the holidays?

2. Make sure you understand why your outcome is important. Why must you achieve your outcome? How will you feel when you have accomplished it at the end of the holidays? What will it cost you if you don't do it?

3. Go to work on creating your action plan. Make sure it includes time to take care of yourself and stay on top of your other goals. Schedule your gym time and your coaching calls. Get up a half an hour earlier and start each day in a great state.

4. Make sure to spend a little time each evening in gratitude. Celebrate your successes and congratulate yourself for enjoying the holidays, your way!

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