The Working Mom’s Guide to Staying Sane During the Holidays
7 Calendar Dates to Add in November
If you’re already feeling behind and it’s only November... You’re not alone.
For working moms, November is the new December.
School events pile up. Work kicks into Q4 overdrive. Thanksgiving takes over your grocery list and your bandwidth. And if you’re the default parent, it’s all falling on your plate.
The mental load of trying to “keep up” this month is enough to short-circuit your nervous system especially if everything is still just living in your head.
That’s why this isn’t just another seasonal checklist.
It’s a sanity-saving, calendar-based strategy to help you actually feel like you’re managing your time not being steamrolled by it.
Here are 7 essential dates every working mom should add to her calendar now to feel calm, confident, and (mostly) in control this November.
🏫 1. Parent–Teacher Conference Week
Why it matters: These events sneak up fast and often require time off work, filling out forms, or remembering what you wanted to talk about with the teacher.
Add to calendar:
Conference date/time (per child)
Reminder to complete forms or prep questions
Block time to leave work early
🧠 Pro Tip: Add a note to review grades or classwork the night before. You’ll walk in prepared not panicked.
🦃 2. Thanksgiving Logistics
Why it matters: From early school dismissals to food prep and family dynamics, this one week can derail your whole month if you don’t plan ahead.
Add to calendar:
Grocery shopping window (Nov 18–20)
Early release day (Nov 27)
Side dish prep time (Nov 27)
Hosting or travel logistics
Personal rest block yes, really!
🧠 Pro Tip: Schedule family downtime just like cooking time. No one enjoys a burnt-out mom.
🧤 3. Winter Gear & Holiday Card Prep
Why it matters: That first freezing morning isn’t the time to realize your kids’ boots don’t fit or the family photo deadline already passed.
Add to calendar:
Winter coat & boot check (by Nov 10)
Holiday photo planning (by Nov 12)
Holiday outfits for events (by Nov 17)
🧠 Pro Tip: Add a return reminder for any items that don’t fit to avoid closet clutter or wasted money.
📚 4. Sneaky School Events
Why it matters: From Spirit Week to Book Fairs and class feasts, these events love to ambush your already-packed mornings.
Add to calendar:
Spirit Week themes (by day)
Book Fair shopping day + budget
Class Feast supply sign-up + event time
Picture Retake Day
🧠 Pro Tip: Snap a pic of the flyers in backpacks and upload to your calendar saves SO much mental load.
💼 5. Q4 Work & Career Planning
Why it matters: Just as home life intensifies, work goes into full-year-end crunch mode. And PTO fills up fast.
Add to calendar:
Project deadlines + team meetings
PTO request deadline
Weekly Friday Planning Sessions (Nov 1, 8, 15, 22 block 30 min)
🧠 Pro Tip: Use my Weekly Planning Blueprint every Friday to plan your week in 20 minutes or less so you start Mondays on offense, not defense.
🧠 6. Mental Load Relief for YOU
Why it matters: Everyone’s leaning on you. But who’s supporting you?
Add to calendar:
Calendar reset or solo planning hour
Meal plan in peace (add coffee!)
90-min “just me” block on a weekend
🧠 Pro Tip: Feeling maxed out? Book a Working Mom SOS Session a 1:1 planning call to untangle your schedule with someone who gets it.
🛍️ 7. Black Friday With Boundaries
Why it matters: Don’t let random deals run your life. Plan what you’re buying and who it’s for now not in the Target parking lot at 8am.
Add to calendar:
Gift brainstorm on Nov 15
Shopping list + budget on Nov 20
Join the waitlist for productivity tools that actually help
🧠 Pro Tip: The best deals aren’t leggings or gadgets they’re systems that give you your time and peace back.
🎯 Want the Real Win? Peace of Mind
Let’s be honest: You’re not craving more tips. You’re craving capacity. You’re not just managing logistics. You’re managing humans, expectations, and emotions including your own.
This November, reclaim control with a few intentional moves:
🗓️ Plan ahead.
🧠 Lighten your mental load.
✨ Invest in tools and support that actually make your life easier.
If you want help? I’ve got you.
The Weekly Planning Blueprint – Plan your week in 20 min
Working Mom SOS Session – Personalized 1:1 calendar coaching
Master Your Morning Routine Workshop – Free, with bonus live Q&A
Time Management Academy – 3-week live program for sustainable systems
VIP Planning Day – Build your custom 90-day plan with my support
You don’t have to do it all. But with the right plan? You can do what matters most without losing yourself in the process.