Last week, shortly after I had been negotiating with my own calendar like it was a hostage standoff, I stumbled on the idea of a holiday “not-to-do list.” In the days since, I haven’t been able to shake the idea out of my mind.

I’ve been considering what I could cross off my season before it even begins.

The key, I decided, is to get specific. Saying “I will not overplan” sounds nice, but it doesn’t change anything. Saying “I will not make plans for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings” is something I can actually follow. I’m claiming that one for December with the only exception of Dec. 31, when we have our annual Long Dinner with friends.

With the guiding question of “What specific choices will make the next month better?,” a few items presented themselves quickly:

On my days off,

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