The “I’ll do it next year” trap (+ how to dodge it)
Sloppy Copy
Copywriting, content, and marketing can be messy. Sloppy Copy embraces it with shameless stories, tips, and ideas to help you sound real and spark action... while keeping your sanity intact.
Shared every Thursday to marketers, solopreneurs, and business owners. (I'm Cass, btw — your cool new copywriter friend with ideas for your website, sales copy, emails, and other fun content things.)
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When your to-do list turns into a “NOPE” list
Last week, I tried to list everything I want to do before the end of the year.
Five minutes later, I was staring at the ceiling, drinking cold coffee, and feeling like an utter failure — before I’d even done any work.
It felt kind of silly… but it also made a lot of sense.
Because if you’re anything like me, you have a lot swirling in your head right now:
Holiday chaos. End-of-year deadlines. Big dreams for next year. The sudden urge to throw your laptop into a snowbank and go into full winter hibernation mode.
I can’t help you with your holiday shopping list. But I’ve got you with the marketing overwhelm.
Let’s start with email, because it’s usually the place where the overwhelm shows up first… and loudest.
^This is how the rest of my day went, if you were wondering
What’s the best way to tackle your mental checklist?
You probably already have a big ‘ole list of what you want your email marketing to look like next year — like:
More consistent nurturing.
More personalized messages.
More engagement.
More conversions.
More trust.
More buyers.
More everything.
You can do it all. But you can’t do it all at once.
If you try, one of two things usually happens:
A)You start way too many projects at the same time. They all end up half-baked, forgotten, or abandoned the second something urgent pops up.
B)You do nothing, because your brain is functioning like an out-of-date browser with too many tabs open.
In both cases, you’ll end the year in the same place you started — still overwhelmed, still behind, and still annoyed that none of your ideas turned into reality.
Good news: You can totally break out of that cycle. And it’s easier than it seems.
How to prioritize so things actually get done (faster, better, and easier)
The simplest way I’ve found to cut through overwhelm is this:
Pick one project. Do it well. Then move to the next one.
Sure, it sounds simple. But that first step is the hardest part.
To make it work, you need a method for deciding which project needs your attention first.
My go-to is the ICE Framework (from Sean Ellis).
It helps you rank each idea based on three categories:
Impact: How much will this move you toward your goals?
Ease: How simple is it to implement? Will it take two hours… or two months?
Confidence: How sure are you that this will work?
Rate each idea on a scale from 1–10. Add the scores. Start with the highest.
That’s it.
Instead of juggling 12 “someday” projects, you’re knocking out the most valuable one first. And it'll get your full attention, energy, and creativity.
Do that consistently, and your marketing — and productivity — will look unrecognizable in 2026.
Want to know which email projects should be at the top of your list?
Here’s a quick guide to show you which email strategies can make the biggest impact — whether you’re launching them from scratch or optimizing them to work harder in 2026.
Plus: If you scroll to the bottom, you can grab a free welcome + nurture funnel template to hit the ground running.
Monthly mocktail: Hug-in-a-mug Mulled Wine
Fun fact: I’m 50% Dutch and lived in the Netherlands for a chunk of 2019. This is a non-alcoholic version of the Gluewein sold at every Christmas market I visited — delicious, spiced, and perfect for keeping you warm on cold nights.
What you’ll need:
2 cups cranberry juice + 2 cups pomegranate juice
OR
750 ml non-alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or other AF red wine of your choice
Plus:
2 cups water (only if you’re using juice — not needed for wine)
8 cloves
6 blackberries (optional)
1 cinnamon stick
3 star anise
1 orange, sliced
Brown sugar to taste
What you’ll do — stovetop style:
Plop everything into a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a really low boil.
Turn heat to low and cover. Let it steam for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Strain (or just pick out the orange slices and spices).
Add brown sugar until it’s perfectly sweet. You might need to add more if you used wine instead of juice.
Pour into your favorite cozy mug and garnish.
What you’ll do — slow-cooker style:
Plop everything into your slow cooker. Cook on low for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Strain (or just pick out the orange slices and spices).
Add brown sugar until it’s perfectly sweet. You might need to add more if you used wine instead of juice.
Copywriting, content, and marketing can be messy. Sloppy Copy embraces it with shameless stories, tips, and ideas to help you sound real and spark action... while keeping your sanity intact.
Shared every Thursday to marketers, solopreneurs, and business owners. (I'm Cass, btw — your cool new copywriter friend with ideas for your website, sales copy, emails, and other fun content things.)
