December 2024 Goals & Intentions
This essay initially appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 12/2/24.
Can you believe it is already December?! The last month of the year!
I feel like 2024 has flown by. I can vividly remember it being last December, when I was freshly engaged to Matt and starting to think about a wedding, while also soaking up the magic of the season.
After we selected our January 3 wedding date, I remember thinking to myself, “I wonder what what next December will be like, when we’ll be just weeks out from our date and in the midst of the holiday season!”
I may have underestimated what it would be like… 🙂
I’ve loved the wedding planning process (wrote more about that here!), but I would be lying if I said this past month has been easy. Entering the final stretch of wedding planning, I’m learning that I am a much better starter than finisher (should’ve guessed that with my love of Mondays!). I’m finding the little details and the last to-dos to be stressful. I don’t love that for every one thing I check off my list, three more things are added. Making progress? Being efficient? Not really sure.
Then, when I was in church yesterday, I was reminded that Dec. 1 marked the first Sunday of Advent. Advent – like Lent – is a liturgical season in the church that focuses on preparing for a major celebration. Advent occurs the four weeks leading up to Dec. 25. Many celebrate with fun Advent calendars that count down the days or lighting Advent wreaths to mark the passing of weeks. No matter the practice, the themes of hope-filled anticipation and preparation are strong.
As I reflected on the season of Advent, I realized it was quite similar to the season of engagement. So much anticipation! So much preparation!
Last week, I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around how I wanted to approach December. Whenever I thought about the month ahead, my mind drifted to my mounting to-do list and I would give up before I even started.
But… I think there is a lesson I can take from the practice of Advent.
Setting aside the religious aspect, I really appreciate the idea of a dedicated season of preparation before a celebration. It’s a cue to act differently, make preparations and recognize that something big is coming.
I also think there is a bigger purpose too: this time of year, with the holiday festivities and lights and parties to attend and presents to wrap, it’s easy to forget the season has a bigger meaning (whatever that meaning may be to YOU, from religious to magical to connection with friends and family and so on). The four-week season of Advent can help re-direct and remind us of the reason for the season.
Similar to being engaged: it’s all too easy to get caught up in the little details of wedding planning and lose sight of what we are preparing for… the start of a marriage.
Inspired by this, I’m reframing this time to a “little Advent” of wedding planning. Even just acknowledging that these next four weeks are a distinct season of preparation makes me feel better! I know I have to act differently, think differently and work harder to remind myself of the bigger reason for all this preparation.
It doesn’t take away the stress. However, these next four weeks will pass one way or another, and my mindset is up to me. I hope that with this framing I’m able to anchor in the hope and anticipation instead of the overwhelm. We’ll see how it goes!
I’m thankful I had this reflection ahead of doing the ritual of a monthly planning sessions, where I take a moment to reflect on the month ahead, what I have coming up, and how I’d like to spend my time.
If you are looking for a Monday morning activity, giving this a try. Refill your favorite holiday mug and ask yourself the following. Can’t wait to hear about what you are looking forward to most this December!
December 2024 Goals & Intentions
What do I love about the month of December?
- The obvious… Christmas and the festivity of the holiday season!
- I love being in Chicago during the holidays. Christmastime in the city is magical.
- I also love being home for the holidays and spending time with family.
What’s unique about this December?
- The obvious one that I’ve already written about above… final stretch of wedding planning!
- Have some fun holiday plans with friends I’m looking forward to.
- Also looking forward to time in Indianapolis with Matt’s family in mid-December and then being home in Florida at the end of the month!
December 2024 Intentions
- Re-listen to Calm Christmas and Happy New Year. This is becoming an annual tradition for me… it has a great message of defining what is most special to you and helps you reflect on going about the season in a calm, but meaningful, way.
- One festive activity and one wedding planning item a day. Something that works well for me is breaking things down into smaller steps. I’d rather do something small every day than do a long stretch of something on one day.
- So, in this season of preparation, we are taking my “Wedding Wednesday” approach up a notch. Each day this month, I’m going to do one wedding-related task (or maybe more than 1, depending on bandwidth). Knowing I have this time dedicated to the wedding every day will actually help me relax more and not feel like I need to be cramming tasks haphazardly into any free moment. One thing a day is fine!
- Similarly, I don’t want to get to the end of the holiday season and feel like I haven’t enjoyed my favorite activities. Doing one festive thing a day helps me stretch this wonderful time a bit. Some of the festive activities will be big ones, like going to see the big tree downtown or a holiday dinner with friends, but most of them will be small, everyday things like getting a festive coffee, watching a Christmas movie or going on a walk to look at decorations.
- And a key component is that I plan on keeping a running list of the daily things I do for both (wedding & festive) to jog my memory and help me see all the great things happening this month.
- Continue to stay off social media. It’s working for me right now in this busy season!!
From the archives: December 2023 | December 2022