Year-end deadlines and budgets land on top of holiday events, staff illness and everyone’s own family expectations. Leaders carry their own load and their team’s at the same time. That weight doesn’t stay at the office. It comes home with us, often without our noticing.

This season, my hope for you is permission. You don’t have to finish the year perfectly or make the holidays good for everyone. Here is a checklist that isn’t another to-do list.