Holly Wainwright on embracing the final quarter of the year.

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This article originally appeared on Holly Wainwright's Substack, Holly Out Loud. Sign up here.

You can feel it coming. The neck tension that tells you this year has almost run out.

And with it, all the good intentions that you were going to be a completely different person in 2025. Someone calmer, kinder, thinner. Someone who's somehow more productive yet more well-rested. Someone who exercised regularly, parented mindfully and was MVP of the group chat. All that was comfortably within reach in January. April, even.

But now it's the end of October and f**k it, it's pretty much over and here you are, still you.

Watch: Does watching The Golden Bachelor make you hopeful of finding love or something else? Holly unpacks her complicated feelings. Post continues after video.

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Well look, we could view this as a lesson — stop it with the over-ambitious remodelling of your personality every New Year's Eve. And also, it ain't over, friends. There is still time to salvage 2025. Two whole months left to go. If you were about to go on holiday for 10 weeks (I know, a woman can dream), you would think that was a nice hefty chunk of time. Or if someone you loved was about to go away for two months, you'd think that was plenty long. AGES, even. So let's calm the F down, lock in (as my daughter would say, cringe) and decide we can salvage this end of year.

Welcome to my TED talk about not just zombie-walking into the mayhem that sees us hitting Dec 31 knackered, angry, and furiously remodelling our personalities again. See how this works?

This year, let's enter the final quarter — or, um, sixth, maths are not my strong suit — embracing the power of NUP. And yes, this is directed at myself, because yes, 'nup' was my word of the year and no, I haven't nupped very hard at all. But as we have established, there's still time.

Listen to this episode of Mamamia Out Loud where Holly Wainwright talks about the final quarter of 'nup' energy. Post continues after audio.

Here we go. A Nup List for the slide into the most ridiculous part of the year. Set expectations early, avoid the frazzle.

NUP, we don't need to "catch up before Christmas" — barring disaster, we'll all be here in January, and that month has days in it, too.

NUP, I do not need to start a clean regime/six-week Summer challenge because I want to go swimming sometimes. My wobbles will not burn your eyes.

NUP, having a vagina does not make me better at buying a MECCA voucher for the teacher, Kevin.

NUP to decorating and costuming an elaborate Halloween unless it tickles your inner child. Well-worn excuses: "But it's American", "I scare easily", "Every outfit's offensive these days".

NUP to hosting Summer like Martha. Set the rules: Everyone has a job. You either bring a plate or you help clean up. The only people allowed to do both are the ones who never do.

NUP to a gift tower that reaches the top of the tree. Nobody, not even your uber-cute three-year-old niece, needs more nonsense. And no-one, in this economy, has anywhere to put it.

NUP to the Elf On The Shelf. It's an elaborate rort to wake parents in a panic moments after they finally fall into sleep. This one is obvious, and yet I have never achieved it.

NUP a child will not be traumatised if you don't make it to carols, dance concert, Summer picnic, fair day and class assembly. Pick your battles. The occasional empty chair builds resilience (solid Gen X wisdom, right there).

NUP to organising the office party on top of your actual job because "you're really good at it, Nicole".

NUP to the expectation you'll be buying presents for your partner's family. Tell them now, "You need to get your mum something," and leave it at that. If there's any resistance, tell them "that sounds like a you problem". People love that.

NUP, it's not selfish to want a slice of Summer for yourself. A beach day when you could be shopping. A dinner with your mates when you could be prepping one at home. A morning swim. An actual holiday, rather than just hosting in another less-convenient location. Take it xx

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