Tools to Help You Get it All Done:The Holiday Calendar

No matter what you’re celebrating, December tends to be one of the busiest months of the year. As a therapist, it’s also one of my busiest seasons. I often hear people share how overwhelmed they feel:“I have too much to do and not enough time,” “I overbooked myself,” “I’m exhausted,” “I don’t even know where to start.” If you can relate, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created TheHoliday Calendar—a simple tool to help you organize what needs to get done, pace yourself, and even carve out time to rest. Just follow the steps below.

What you need:

• 1-2 pieces of paper or your scheduler

• a pen

• Optional: fun coloured markers/pens

Step 1:

On your first piece of paper, draw a line down the middle.

• On the left side, write down everything you need to do this season.

• On the right side, write down everything you want to do.

As you fill it in, you might notice that the need-to-do’s outweigh the want-to-do’s—and that’s completely normal. You may also find a few tasks that fit into both categories. Those items often matter the most: they’re meaningful and necessary.

Step 2:

On your second sheet of paper (or on the back of your list), draw seven evenly spaced horizontal sections. These will represent the seven days of the week. At the top of each section, write the day of the week, leaving plenty of room underneath for writing.If you’re using a scheduler, this

part is already set up for you.

Next, divide each day into three columns:

• Morning

• Afternoon

• Evening

If you find you need more space, feel free to add extra columns. For example, early risers might include an early morning section for tasks they do before getting ready for work.

Step 3:

Now, take the items from your “need to do” and “want to do” lists and begin placing them into your weekly layout. As you do this, keep a few things in mind:

• Consider the time each task will actually take—including travel time, if needed.

• Then assume it will take longer than you think. Life rarely goes exactly as planned, and giving yourself extra time helps reduce stress and overwhelm.

Don’t forget to schedule non-negotiables that might not be on your list, like work, school, appointments, family responsibilities, or regular activities. Adding these helps you see how much

time you really have to work with.

You may notice in my example that some tasks (like laundry) appear more than once. Breaking bigger tasks into smaller chunks makes them easier to complete, without feeling rushed or stressed. I’ve also highlighted self-care and downtime on my calendar. For me, these are non-negotiables—I protect them with strong boundaries. I don’t schedule anything over them, and I treat that time as space to do whatever I need or want. I encourage you to do the same if possible; rest is not a luxury, it’s part of how you manage everything else.

Quick Side Note:

The Holiday Calendar should work for you. Its purpose is to break your week into manageable pieces so your to-do list feels less overwhelming. Feel free to adjust it: add extra columns, skip days you don’t want to schedule, or plan only part of the week at a time. If your version supports your life and reduces stress, then it’s working.