The holiday season can be a whirlwind, especially when you’re juggling year-end goals with family, friends, and personal commitments. 

‍

It’s easy to feel like you’re spinning plates and that one slip might just knock them all down.

‍

But here’s the thing: 

‍

This time of year can be one of your most productive—and fulfilling—with the right strategies in place.

‍

Here are a few ways to keep stress low and focus high during the holiday rush:

‍

1. Prioritize Your Non-Negotiables

‍

Amatuers have a calendar full of tasks. 

‍

Professionals have a calendar full of priorities. 

‍

There’s a difference between what needs to be done and what can wait. 

‍

Each week, make a list of your top priorities—those tasks that, if done, will have the biggest impact on your goals. 

‍

Protect those priorities. 

‍

Anything that’s not on this list? Either schedule it for later or let it go for now.

‍

Complete a time and energy audit. 

‍

2. Embrace the 80/20 Rule

‍

Amateurs worry about outputs.

‍

Professionals win on the inputs. 

‍

When things get busy, focus on the 20% of activities that generate 80% of your results. 

‍

For Loan Officers, that could mean lead generation, preapproval follow-ups and quick value add touch points with key partners. 

‍

Don’t waste time on tasks that have minimal payoff. 

‍

Study your ROE activities:

‍

Return-On-Effort. 

‍

This strategy alone can make a massive difference in how productive (and relaxed) you feel.

‍

3. Time Block (and Honor) Your “Personal” Time

‍

Amateurs burn out

‍

Professionals burst forward.

‍

It’s tempting to fill every spare minute with “just one more” work task, but honoring your personal time is essential. 

‍

Set (literaly schedule) specific hours to relax, connect with yourself, and with anything that takes your entire mind off work. 

‍

Use these time blocks like any other work appointment—they’re non-negotiable. 

‍

Stepping back, even briefly, helps recharge you for what’s next.

‍

4. Plan Ahead to Avoid Last-Minute Stress

‍

Amateurs wait for motivation.

‍

Professionals win on discipline.

Planning isn’t just about checking off tasks; it’s about setting yourself up for smooth sailing. 

‍

Schedule a Sunday Night Ritual to review your week before, to preview and plan your week ahead. 

‍

By understanding and anticipating that on some days your motivation will elude you, your calendar will direct you on what you committed to so you don’t drift.

Let your disciplines that are intentionally designed in your calendar direct you. 

‍

5. Zoom Out 

‍

Amatuers think in the days

‍

Professionals think in the decades. 

‍

Please understand that business is hard. 

‍

And some people do NOT deserve to be successful by virtue of their own impatience. 

‍

It takes time to be win in the game of business and business rewards those that can bare with it during the tough times. 

‍

Frankly, struggle give success value. 

But trust that hard times feel a LOT longer that they really are and it always weeds out the “renta-Loan Officers”

‍

You will win through attrition.

You will dominate through skill acquisition. 

‍

As long as you go to be smarter and wiser than you woke up, you will win long term. 

‍

Think long term. 

‍

I hope today’s LO Launch Letter impacted just one person today. 

‍

Amir

‍