INTHEBLACK November 2026 - Magazine - Page 61
CLOSING THE BOOKS
4 tips to save
your December
Before the end-of-year calendar fills up
completely, ask four questions that could
save you from a season of overcommitment.
But if you had to attend next week, would the answer
be the same?
This question helps to bring a distant commitment
into the present and forces a more realistic assessment
of your availability and energy levels.
Words Sonakshi Babbar
3. WHAT AM I GIVING UP TO BE THERE?
The last month of the year has a way of turning even the
most organised person into an overbooked, overstretched
version of themselves. A work lunch here, a school event there,
a family gathering on the weekend and suddenly almost every
moment is accounted for.
The challenge is not a lack of time-management skills. It is
that professionals are often making decisions one invitation at
a time, without stepping back to consider the bigger picture.
Before saying yes to the next invitation, pause and ask
these four simple questions.
1. DO I GENUINELY WANT TO ATTEND?
This might sound obvious, but many of us agree to invitations
out of habit, obligation or fear of disappointing someone.
Take a moment to separate what you actually want to do
from what you feel you should do. If the invitation immediately
feels like another item on an already crowded to-do list, that
is worth paying attention to.
A “yes” should ideally come from enthusiasm, rather than guilt.
No one wants a party guest who would rather be elsewhere.
2. WOULD I SAY YES IF THE EVENT WAS THIS WEEK?
Future you always seems to have more free time. An invitation
to an event that is six weeks away can feel easy to accept
because it exists in an imaginary version of the calendar.
Every commitment comes with a trade-off. Attending an
event might mean missing a family dinner, skipping a run,
giving up a quiet night at home or sacrificing precious
sleep. Those things have value, too.
When contemplating a “yes”, consider not just what
you are gaining — but what you are saying “no” to.
4. WILL I REGRET MISSING IT IN SIX MONTHS?
Not all invitations carry the same weight. A once-a-year
family reunion, child’s graduation or holiday gathering
with high-school friends may be the kinds of events
you will wish you had attended. A dinner catch-up
with colleagues you see every day may not.
Thinking about the long-term significance of an event
can help cut through the pressure of the moment and
clarify what truly adds value.
TAKE A PAUSE
When the diary starts to fill up, remember that every
invitation does not deserve an automatic “yes”. By running
each request through these four simple questions, you
can make more intentional choices about where your time
and energy go.
The result is not an emptier calendar, but a December
filled with the things that matter most.
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au
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