As we enter the final stretch of the year, I swear time shifts into a higher gear. The holiday season is no longer a leisurely stroll through December—it’s a frantic sprint. Suddenly, there are endless checklists, deadlines, and more tasks than I can reasonably squeeze into my days. Seriously, Santa isn’t the only one checking a list twice. And unlike him, I don’t have a team of elves to help me stay on track!

First on the list: gifts. Not just for family and friends, but for colleagues, too. And it’s not just about any gift—it’s about finding something thoughtful enough to show I care, but also practical enough for people to actually enjoy. And as I wrap up one present, I’m always hit with the anxious feeling that I’ve forgotten someone (or something). The ghost of forgotten gifts past haunts me every year.

Next up: meetings, meetings, and more meetings. This time of year, it feels like everyone is in a mad dash to hit their year-end goals. Every meeting has a sense of urgency, like we’re all racing against the clock to check those final boxes. But of course, once the meetings are over, I still have to actually do the work. This is where multitasking has become an art form.

Then there’s the personal checklist. I need to get my hair done before the year’s end because starting January 1st with fabulous hair is a non-negotiable. There’s something about having my hair perfectly in place that makes me feel like I can tackle whatever 2024 throws at me.

Oh, and did I mention I’m planning a vacation? Yep, because nothing says “I have everything under control” quite like booking flights and day trips while juggling a dozen other to-do’s.

With all of this going on, December feels like a whirlwind, a beautiful yet exhausting race to the finish line. The finish line being New Year’s Eve, where I’ll likely collapse into 2024 with a glass of champagne, thinking, How did I get here? But for now, it’s full steam ahead. After all, I have lists to check, meetings to attend, gifts to buy, hair to style—and through it all, I’m just hoping I don’t forget myself in the process!