How not to go crazy in December and manage everything: 5 planning rules

A plan will help you get through the December race without the constant feeling of rush. Let's figure out how to compose it and what to pay attention to when performing it.

1. Make a list of all your to-dos for December

It is important here to make the list as complete as possible. Ideally, don’t forget about a single task. You can create two sheets at once: work and home. If there are not too many tasks, try combining lists.

This step may take you the whole day. Write down every thing you remember. You can limit yourself to one brief sentence, but it is better to add to each point an explanation of what exactly needs to be done and why it is important. For example, not just “put in order kitchen”, but “throw out the excess from the cabinets, wash all the shelves, replace the detergent dispenser, buy new coasters for hot dishes.”

These notes will help you estimate the amount of work and allocate the right amount of time for it.

Some tasks - for example, decorating a Christmas tree, find gifts loved ones, pay all bills - you will write it down immediately. They are repeated year after year and have become a New Year's routine, so it is more difficult to forget about them. Others may not come to mind immediately. Example: give a friend the tent you borrowed from him in August. Or call a plumber to fix your slightly leaking shower.

These are one-time and not the most urgent matters that are easy to forget about. But, if the shower suddenly breaks down completely on the evening of the 31st, the holiday may be ruined. Therefore, try to remember every problem that is better solved to the end December, and add it to the general list.

It’s better to use a file for this, not paper: you can easily swap items in it.

2. Arrange things in order of importance

When the list is ready, it’s worth sorting out the priorities. First, highlight in color all the most important things that cannot be canceled. For example, you definitely need to buy food for the holiday table and go to the doctor. And also - plan a visit to a beauty salon, and make it in time before the corporate event. These are priority tasks. But you can give the tent to a friend during the holidays, if you don’t have time in December.

Move all highlighted items to the top of the list. Then rank them by urgency. To do this, indicate the date when the case must be finished.

At this stage, one thing can turn into two - for example, you first need to call a beauty salon or make an appointment online, and you will arrive there in two weeks. That is, instead of one, you have two items and two dates.

This is important: often people do not mark such small tasks in the plan.

They think that if something takes at most 5 minutes, they don’t have to write it down. And then they simply forget to complete the task on time and create an unnecessary problem for themselves. Therefore, in the “Important Things” section, it is worth noting all the necessary actions and determining the time for completing each.

Then arrange these tasks on your calendar grid. You will immediately see which days you are overloaded with, and where you can add a couple more items.

Important: be sure to leave reserve windows in your plan - hours for which you are not planning anything yet. You can use them when the allotted time is not enough for some important task. For example, if instead of one visit to dentist you will need two.

When you have dealt with the priority tasks, add the rest - not the most important ones - to the empty windows. Move from the beginning of the list to the end: if some lower-priority tasks don’t fit anywhere at all, feel free to move them to the next month. Or refuse to do them altogether. Yes, this is possible, and sometimes even necessary.

The preliminary plan for December is ready.

3. Be sure to add time to rest in your schedule

You'll probably want to celebrate the holiday full of energy and in a good mood. But in the December race, many often forget about rest and approach the finish line exhausted and burnt out. To avoid this, simply set aside time for relaxation and consider it one of the most important things to do.

This means that under no circumstances should you replace it with other tasks.

At the end of each week, try to set aside at least half a day off solely for recovery. In mid-December, it’s worth taking a whole day off, even if you feel like you’re not getting anything done.

It is not necessary to specify in advance exactly what you will do. It's better to make a list of activities that help you relax and restore strength. It will be different for everyone. For example, there could be sports, walking, dancing, cooking, chess or knitting. You should not include untested options there - the time for experiments will come in January. Indicate only those methods in which you are absolutely sure.

When it's time to relax, take a list and ask yourself what you would enjoy doing. Maybe you want to put all the lists aside altogether, lie down on the sofa, cover yourself with a blanket and watch comedies - then do just that.

4. Move towards your goals at your own pace

Sometimes on the Internet there are rules invented by someone, by what date you need to start and finish routine New Year’s tasks. For example, some people think that a Christmas tree is worth dress up 1-2 weeks before the holidays - no earlier and no later. And they even conduct polls: “It’s already December 20th, did you make it in time? Or were you among the laggards?”

Such rules should not be taken seriously. Decorate the Christmas tree at least in early December, at least on the 31st an hour before midnight. The main thing is that you enjoy the process. And you are not obligated to show the completion mark to anyone.

It's the same with other things. For example, it is not necessary to congratulate all loved ones in the last hours before the holiday or immediately after the New Year's chimes. You can schedule visits or chat via messenger with those who are far away for the entire pre-New Year decade. There is also a traditional type of congratulation for this: “Happy New Year!” This way you will not only save yourself from the hustle and bustle on the last day of the year, but also create for yourself and your loved ones in advance New Year's mood.

It is not necessary to focus on the usual dates and deadlines. Think about what will be more convenient for you.

If you follow these four steps, December can be an enjoyable, fuss-free month. But that's not all.

5. Be prepared that things may not go according to plan.

Yes, something will definitely turn out wrong. For example, you catch a cold and won’t be able to leave the house for 2-3 days. Or there will be an unexpected emergency at work due to the actions of a less than punctual client. Or you suddenly need new winter shoes and spend half the day searching for the right pair. Here's what will help in such cases.

1. Plan to close your most important tasks by December 20th. If you don’t have time for something, you still have time until the end of the month. And if you finish everything on time, you can rest a little.
2. Don't be afraid to say no to new tasks. Try to postpone all non-urgent matters, if they arise, until January. Do not take on urgent issues alone, but only together with others. colleagues or family members. No, this will not make you an irresponsible employee or an inattentive parent. It is much sadder if you get down to business and they count on you, but you cannot do what you promised.
3. Delegate what you can’t do yourself. If you are not ready to spend half a day in the supermarket, arrange delivery. If you are not sure that you will receive products of the required quality, order only canned food, cereals, and drinks. And you will take everything perishable the day before the holiday - this will take less time than a full-scale purchase.
4. Use two-in-one services. For example, if you need to tidy up your eyebrows and update manicure, choose a salon where they will do it for you simultaneously, in four hands. Save both time and effort.
5. Be prepared to move any task not from the top 10 to January. Try to finish all the important things and promise yourself in advance not to worry if you don’t have time to do something of a lower priority. For example, you wanted to dismantle your closet and give away or sell those things that you will no longer wear. If you don’t have time, do it after the long weekend. In this case, you will declutter without haste and with pleasure. This is even better: the new year will start productively.
6. Be prepared to come up with a backup option if the main one doesn't work. For example, you just don’t have time to prepare all the planned dishes for the holiday. Great, you can put some of your groceries in the freezer and not worry about not wanting to go to the store during the holidays. And try to celebrate the New Year lightly, with vegetable salads, cold cuts, fruits and drinks. You are unlikely to eat much at night - let this be no exception. Just buy something really tasty and festive. You might even enjoy this light feast. And there will still be time for culinary masterpieces - the whole year is ahead.

So, it’s worth making a to-do list in advance, distributing them according to the calendar grid and trying to stick to the plan. But don’t be afraid to change something in the process. And remember: even if you don’t have time to do something important, The New Year will still come, the clock will strike 12 times, and the Earth will go into a new round. And you will have another 365 days to make improvements and correct errors. So you can definitely do it.

The film tells about the development of a relationship between a married woman and her young secretary-assistant, to whom she initially shows excessive severity and exactingness. And then after he, unable to bear her claims, boldly expresses everything to her, she gradually changes her attitude towards him, she begins to have romantic feelings for him, and when her husband leaves somewhere (it seems he is sailing away on a ship), she does not hide her attitude towards him and surrenders to her feelings. If possible, please tell me the name of this film! Sincerely, V.P.

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