"Lucy" our holiday lights will be lit in Bahnhofstrasse this Thursday. My agenda is full of evening events and a client who lived in the US asked me this week: Can I wish you "Happy Holidays" already?" (My skin turned into chicken skin. I had goosebumps.)

Already? Is it already holiday season? Or did it start earlier this year? Did I miss something?

And while I was telling my mother how busy I was I noticed that the thought of a Christmas tree and decorations crossed my mind. Then I remembered that I need to share my secret with you.

Let's discuss my secret to managing the year-end.

Maybe it is obvious to you but the secret to managing the year-end and every other transition phase is to take small steps, baby steps actually.

Most bigger projects in life such as an international assignment with a move to another country or a move to a new company seem stressful because we are trying to tackle everything at once.

Transitions force us to change and do stuff in a different way, which our whole body resists too. 

I used to feel overwhelmed when trying to repair stuff BUT last week I had returned from #rockmretreat18 and the energy helped me approach the issue with my vacuum cleaner systematically. I even checked the manual which is an improvement from last year. Guess what? A cork got stuck and blocked the process. (Almost like in the real world...).

What we are trying before the Christmas holidays looks a bit like my vacuum cleaner (pre-retreat).

We are trying to stuff more activities in the same amount of time and then our system blocks and goes into overdrive. We either explode or we stop taking in information (or dust in her case.)

One of the qualities of Switzerland is planning. We schedule in advance so that all processes can run smoothly and without clogging. Sometimes this feels very slow. When you come from an action-packed, high activity country, you might get impatient.

I had a hard time adjusting to planning for at least two years. Then I finally accepted that this is the way it is and since then I plan my lunches four weeks ahead. I take the next appointment for the hairdresser while I’m still sitting there.

Yes, this is the way the rabbit runs in Switzerland (literally translated from a German proverb).

You probably wonder how to take those baby steps. I recommend first of all that you start planning 2019 by buying a physical paper calendar that shows the whole year. You can already enter your industry events, vacation, seminars, and other longer projects.

Anything you already know you committed to.

Add special days such as anniversaries, birthdays and your children’s vacation. AND use a color system.

Then buy a pack of colorful post-it notes. Split your whiteboard into five sections for the time until the year-end.

Use headers Week 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51.

Now, add three post-its of the same color for the most important projects you have to complete each week.

You should come up with your 15 main professional priorities. Then take a picture and send it to me. I will continue to explain the next steps next week.

Have a productive week ahead (and start buying those Christmas presents and Christmas cards).

Kind regards

Angie Weinberger

PS: If you wish to send me a Christmas card please use this address: Forchstrasse 179, 8032 Zurich as we are moving out of the Hedwigsteig Club Lounge.