Why you need to plan your 2026 now (not in January)

It’s that time of year again, the one where you’re equal parts proud of how far you’ve come and completely over the chaos that comes with December.

Your head is spinning with ideas for next year: offers you want to launch, habits you want to build, goals you want to hit.
But your energy?
It’s running on empty.

You tell yourself “I’ll map it all out in January”
But that’s how you started this year too.

The January Trap (And Why So Many Women Fall Into It)

January isn’t a fresh start if you’re still carrying the same chaos from the year before.

When I first started my coaching business (alongside a part time job and raising two young kids) I used to collapse into December like a marathon runner crossing the finish line. I’d tell myself “I’ll figure it out once the kids are back at school”.

But when February came, I was still reacting to everything instead of leading with intention. My energy was scattered, my priorities unclear and my goals? They didn’t match my season of life.

That cycle kept repeating, until I started doing my yearly reflection before the year ended.

And it changed everything.

The Power of a Pre Holiday Reset

Planning in December isn’t about “doing more”.
It’s about creating space to breathe.

When you pause before the year ends, you get to:

• Reflect with perspective you’re far enough from the starting line to see the whole picture.
• Plan with clarity you’re not swept up in New Year hype, you’re grounded in what actually matters.
• Enter the new year in alignment, not survival mode.

Think of it like decluttering your house before guests arrive. You’re not just cleaning, you’re creating an environment that feels calm, intentional and ready for what’s next.

How to Do It (The Life Aligned Business® way)

Here’s a simple framework I teach my clients inside the Life Aligned Business® Mastermind and now use in my 1:1 planning sessions:

1. Reflect: Where have you been?

Look at your year like a coach, not a critic.
What worked beautifully? What drained you? What lessons did you learn?

➡ Example: One of my clients realised she spent 60% of her time on low impact admin tasks that could be automated, freeing her up to finally launch her new offer.

2. Realign: Where are you now?

Get honest about what’s truly in alignment.
What feels heavy? What feels exciting? What needs to shift to support the life you actually want?

➡ Example: Another client had been offering 1:1 services she’d outgrown. Through our work together, she simplified her offers and created more income with less effort, all because she realigned to what fit her season.

3. Redesign: Where are you heading?

Create a vision that’s not just about income goals but about how you want to feel.
Then map your actions around that.

➡ Example: A Mum in business I worked with wanted to make $5k months while being available for school pickups. We built a streamlined plan that honoured both her goals and her family rhythm and she hit her income target within 8 weeks.

Why Most “Plans” Don’t Work

Here’s what no one tells you:
You don’t need a longer to do list, you need clarity and capacity.

Most business plans fail because they’re built from pressure, not alignment. They ignore your season of life, your energy cycles and the realities of motherhood + business.

When your plan doesn’t reflect those truths, it’s not sustainable, no matter how pretty your planner looks.

This Is Exactly Why I Created the 2026 Aligned Strategy Session

I saw too many incredible women, just like you, finishing the year feeling frazzled, disconnected and unsure where to focus next.

So I created the 2026 Aligned Strategy Session, a 90 min 1:1 coaching experience designed to help you close out the year with clarity and start the new one feeling focused and confident in your direction.

Together, we’ll:
→ Reflect on what’s worked (and what hasn’t)
→ Define your 2026 goals, in both life + business
→ Map out your aligned priorities and Q1 strategy
→ Create a simple, actionable plan that actually fits your capacity

You’ll walk away not just with a plan, but with peace of mind, knowing exactly what matters most and where to focus next.

And if you’re one of the first five to book, you’ll receive my Time Queen Program (valued at $197) completely free, to help you manage your time and energy like the CEO of your life.

Planning your 2026 now isn’t about being more productive, it’s about being more intentional.
It’s about creating a business that supports your life, not one that steals from it.

When you give yourself space to reflect, realign, and redesign, you don’t just start a new year, you start a new chapter.

So before you rush into holiday mode, take an hour or two to create that calm, confident foundation for 2026.
Future you, the one sipping tea, running her business with ease and actually enjoying the school holidays, will be so glad you did.