Every December, I promise myself this will be the year I slow down. Yet every year, the holidays rush by in a blur of work and missed moments. This time, I’m determined to keep that promise.

As the holidays approach, I find myself reflecting on what matters most. I am firmly in my Hustle Era right now. I work at least 80 hours per week (hey, at least that’s 40 hours less than three years ago). I divorced in 2020, have two teenage daughters, and own two companies. Every year for the past five years, I’ve said I’m going to slow down during the holidays and spend more time with my friends and family. This year, I mean it.

Lexie is a freshman, and Lauryn is in 7th grade. Something about Lexie starting high school made me start counting down how many summers—and especially how many Christmases—I have left with her at home. The answer is simple: not enough. My grandma is 92, my last living grandparent. My dad has Parkinson’s. My friends have endured divorces, infidelity, and medical procedures this year.

So when I say I “mean it,” what does that actually look like? I need to write this down—more for myself than for anyone who may read this. If I don’t have a plan, it won’t happen. If I don’t write it down, it definitely won’t happen. Sharing it will help hold me accountable and keep my promise to myself.

Weight Watchers works because they make you get on a scale (yep, I tried it once in college after living on pizza and bagels for a semester—spoiler alert: it didn’t end well). You write down how much you want to lose and weigh in every week to stay on track. Simple and effective. Don’t overcomplicate life. I worked with lawyers for nearly 20 years—trust me, I’m an expert at overcomplicating anything.

Current state: I work out at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m., depending on how late I worked the night before. I work every day, almost every waking hour I’m not sleeping.

December state:

• Go to bed by 11:30 p.m.
• Work out at 6 a.m.
• Stop working by 6 p.m., even if I “have nothing else to do.”
• Only work until noon on Saturdays and Sundays.

In order to not work (which is my default), I’ll need to plan other activities. In the five years I’ve lived in my house, I’ve never hosted a dinner party, except for my kids. Maybe it’s time. I’ve hardly dated. Maybe it’s time for that, too. I’ve wrapped my kids’ Christmas presents at midnight on Christmas Eve. Maybe this year I could wrap them ahead of time.

I used to LOVE baking tons of treats for Christmas, but I “haven’t had time” in years. This year, I’ll make the time. I adore Christmas classic movies with a glass of wine, and I’ll make time for that, too. I miss my friends and the good times we shared, so I’ll plan dinners or drinks with them.

My dad and I used to stay up way too late, drinking wine and having long talks that turned into sleepovers—just like I still lived there. I’ll make a couple of those nights happen again. My 92 year old grandma won’t ever ask for help (we’re a family of stubborn women). So, I’ll take her cookies and go see her anyway.

As for my daughters, well, they’re teenage girls, so I have to tread carefully. But I’ll be present—not on my laptop or my phone.

This won’t be easy, but it’s important to me. There is absolutely nothing more important in my world than my relationships. I’ve just forgotten that for a while.

One of my favorite quotes from Warren Buffet is, “Time is the only thing I can’t buy.” It’s not about whether I can afford it; it’s about living life without regrets. I know that if I miss these last few years of precious time with my children, my father, or my grandmother because I was working, I’ll regret it.

Hold me to it.

Happy Holidays, everyone. Enjoy your friends and family.