How To Avoid Dragging Your Solo Business Overwhelm With You Into 2026

At this point of the year, it can feel like January 1 is hurtling towards us at an alarming pace.

With the added pressures of social gatherings, gift-buying, meal planning, and ending the year on a financial high, it can push many solo business owners into overwhelm, panic, and even procrastination!

Right now, the New Year feels like it’s filled with possibilities, and when you’re just trying to hold everything together to get through the holiday season, it can feel like a welcome opportunity to reset… but we all know how that goes!

We allow ourselves to enjoy the festivities, only to come out the other side making promises that this year will be the year that we [insert your favorite often-made, rarely kept promise to yourself here].

The problem with all this is that when we head into the New Year with masses of enthusiasm, we usually crash and burn… particularly when that enthusiasm is combined with the business overwhelm we felt (and never dealt with) in the previous year.

That’s why dedicating some time NOW to plan before January arrives is the best way to set yourself up for success and enter the new year with a sense of purpose and direction.

Of course, to many of us, planning can feel daunting or overwhelming, so here are a few things people often try that might help…

Carve out some quiet time for yourself: Find a cozy spot where you feel comfortable and free of distractions. You might want to grab your favorite beverage, put on some soft music, or light a candle to create a peaceful atmosphere.

Reflect on the previous year: what worked well, what challenges you faced, and what you wish to achieve moving forward. This reflection can provide insight into the kind of planning you’ll want to do.

Create a checklist for effective planning: Here’s a simple framework to help guide your thoughts:

1. Define Your Goals: Start by writing down what you hope to achieve next year. Be specific about both short-term and long-term goals.

2. Break It Down: Once you have your goals, divide them into actionable steps. This makes them less intimidating and more manageable.

3. Allocate Resources: Consider what tools or resources you’ll need to reach each goal. This might include time, finances, or even support from others.

4. Set a Timeline: Putting a timeframe on your goals helps create urgency and focuses your efforts. Mark important dates on your calendar.

5. Reflect and Adjust: Make it a habit to regularly review your progress. This allows you to recalibrate as necessary and helps keep you on track.

Outline your support network: While the people in our lives might not have the knowledge or ability to mentor us in business, they can support us in many other ways. Writing down how they support us in their own unique ways can help us to adopt a gratitude mindset, which is a great way to reduce overwhelm.

But if your time is being squeezed right now, it’s too easy to keep postponing this planning session as other, seemingly more important, things gatecrash your schedule.

Let’s face it, it can feel like the hardest thing in the world to take some time for yourself when there’s so much other stuff going on right now - especially if you’re not sure about your goals, you don’t know how to stay motivated throughout the year, or you don’t know how to handle it if things don’t go as planned.

That’s why time to plan is the gift I’m giving you this Christmas! I’m inviting you join my “Overwhelm Whacker Workshop - Annual Planner Edition” where you will be surrounded by fellow solo business owners who know exactly how you feel, and who are also struggling to plan appropriately for the upcoming year.

We’ll walk through the process together and have some fun while we do. Heck, you can even wear a party hat if you like!

The LIVE workshop is being held on Thursday, December 4, at 2pm EST. You can join us for FREE (and get the replay) at https://overwhelmwhackerworkshop.com/annual. We’d love it if you could come and join the fun!

As you approach the new year, remember that planning is a gift you give yourself. It can help transform your overwhelm into a clear vision and create a solid foundation for your business journey in 2026 and beyond.

Embrace this time to gain clarity, and step into the new year filled with hope, excitement, and meaningful direction. You know you were meant for more in this life, so why let overwhelm stand in the way? Join us for the workshop and let’s do 2026 differently, shall we?