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October is one of my favorite months. It’s my birthday month, and my family spoiled me.

But this October was also hard.

At a conference early in the month, an expensive service was offered. It wasn’t right for me at this time, but it stirred up something I wanted: more help finding new ways to market and grow my business.

I started noticing what I couldn’t afford and what I didn’t have. And the more I focused there, the harder it became to see what I could do.

So I turned my attention to something I enjoyed: planning the escape room for our Halloween party.

I love creating things like that. But I let it take over, and my work routines and rhythms started slipping.

Something can matter to you and still take more time than you meant to give it.

By the middle of October, I needed to stop and reset.

I wrote down my goals and what I wanted to accomplish during the rest of the quarter. I grouped the work into areas of my business, made an action plan, and posted my goals where I could see them.

One of those goals is creating my new mini-course. My next steps are to review my previous course, research, and list the steps needed to build it.

The course isn’t finished. The work is still ahead of me. But my thought changed from “I don’t know what to do” to “I have a plan, and I can follow through.”

I felt more confident.

One question is helping me choose where my attention goes:

Does this need to be done now?

To answer, I look at the due dates, my goals, and my top three priorities. Is this important? Does it need my attention today, or can it wait?

That helps me make room for business progress and the things I enjoy.

If you’re looking back at October feeling disappointed, you can stop and reset, too. You don’t have to wait for a new month or a new year.

Take a few minutes to:

• Write down what still matters to you before the year ends.
• Look at the actual due dates and the commitments already on your calendar.
• Choose your next three priorities.

Include what you want to enjoy this season. Those plans deserve room, too.

October can hold things you’re grateful for and things you want to change. Both can help you decide how to move into November.

Hit reply and tell me: What’s one thing you still want to make progress on before the year ends?

A sentence is plenty. I’d love to hear what matters to you. I really do ready every email that comes in.

Terrie

P.S. Check out the October blog for more information on burnout