There are so many things this time of year that aren’t actually hard. They just become significantly more annoying, expensive, or stressful when you wait too long to decide them.
Are we hosting Thanksgiving? Are we doing family photos? Do we need a babysitter for that annual December party? Am I really going apple picking this year, or can I officially stop pretending?
None of these need to become a huge project. Most of them just need an answer! And an answer now means one less thing circling your brain in October, November, and December.
So before October gets busy, we made a list of 20 decisions worth making now. Not necessarily 20 things you need to do this week. Just 20 things to decide so they can either move into your planner, onto a list, or completely out of your head!
Go through it slowly. Some will take thirty seconds. A few might need a conversation. The goal is simply to make life a little easier for your future self.
20 Decisions to Make Before October 1
1. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, traveling, or having a quiet holiday at home.
Tell people now, before the invitations, assumptions, or “I just figured we’d come to you” conversation you don’t want to have later.
You don’t need every detail figured out. You just need the answer!
2. Which weekends between now and Thanksgiving you’re protecting.
Pick two weekends you want to protect now, before they somehow become everyone else’s. Not “maybe we’ll keep that one open.” Actually put them on the calendar!
A free weekend in October can disappear very quickly if you don’t claim it first.
3. What your weeknight rhythm is going to look like this fall.
Which nights are for workouts, dinner at home, date night, errands, church activities, kids’ practices, or doing absolutely nothing?
You don’t need a rigid schedule, but having a general rhythm keeps you from reinventing the week every Monday.
4. Whether you’re doing family photos or holiday cards this year.
Photographer, DIY, last year’s photo, or no cards at all. All valid answers!
But decide now so you’re not panic-texting photographers in November or realizing on December 12 that you still need a picture of everyone looking in the same direction.
5. What you’re officially finishing before November, and what can wait until January.
One house project. One appointment. One lingering task you’ve been saying you’ll get to.
Decide what genuinely needs to happen before the holidays, then give yourself permission to move the rest to January.
There are very few things more freeing than realizing something does not need to happen this fall.
6. What Halloween actually looks like.
Costumes, school parties, trunk-or-treat, neighborhood trick-or-treating, hosting friends.
It can get complicated fast! Make the plan before October makes everything feel urgent.
