Preparing Early
I like the process of planning and preparing early. What I do not like is the stress of last-minute chaos.
I try to take as much stress as I can out of daily life because I like having time for the things I enjoy. Morning espresso. The kitties at the window. Time with the dogs. Skincare with Leila supervising, of course.
Preparing ahead helps me actually do what I planned to do. I keep my supplements ready, bring my Pilates clothes to the office so I can go directly to class, plan clothes for the week and keep OWYN 32 protein shakes on hand for an easy protein option.
I do the same thing with bigger things.
I start preparing for Thanksgiving in September.
Nothing elaborate happens this early. I ask for a soft RSVP so I have an idea of who may be coming and whether there is anything special I want to plan for them.
I usually host 25 to 30 people, and every year I travel for work the week before Thanksgiving. Between preparing for those meetings, the trip itself and everything waiting when I return, I lose about a week of preparation time.
So September makes sense for me.
I know what happens when I leave too much until the last minute. I will literally work around the clock preparing, only to arrive at the part I was looking forward to already exhausted.
So I plan ahead. I make lists, buy things I know I will need when I find them and start before there is any urgency to do it.
For me, preparing early isn’t rushing toward something. It’s getting there steadily.
It’s how I give myself more time to actually enjoy my life.