Tax Extension Deadline
October 15
If you filed for an extension, your taxes are due. No further extensions available.
The October
Finish
No more planning. This is your 30-day execution sprint. Clear blockers, ship work, and finish strong before the holidays.
Why October
Is Do or Die
November is a black hole. Thanksgiving prep, holiday shopping, family obligations, and end-of-year chaos will consume every spare hour.
October is your last clear runway. This is not the month for starting new projects. This is the month for finishing what you started in September — and nothing else.
October Deadlines
You Can't Miss
Early Action College Apps
Nov 1 (prep in Oct)
Most early action deadlines are November 1st. October is your final review window.
Benefits Open Enrollment
Oct–Nov (varies)
Review health insurance, FSA/HSA, and retirement elections before the window closes.
Year-End Budget Review
Late October
Final chance to max retirement contributions, harvest tax losses, and plan Q1 spending.
Your October
Burndown
Days remaining in October
--
0% of October complete
Must / Should /
Could
Do Before November 1st
These are non-negotiable. If you miss them, you've failed October. External deadlines, legal obligations, and critical dependencies.
Example: Tax filing, college app submissions, benefits enrollment
Finish If Possible
High-impact goals from your September audit. They're important, but you can push them to Q1 if absolutely necessary.
Example: Launch side project MVP, complete online course, finalize year-end budget
Nice to Have
Low-priority items. Only touch these if you've cleared your Must and Should lists. Otherwise, defer to Q1.
Example: Redesign portfolio, read that book, organize digital files
Pro Tip: If your "Must" list has more than 5 items, you're overcommitted. Something needs to move to "Should" or get cut entirely.
Your October
To-Do List
30-Day Sprint
0 / 10 completeProgress saved locally — your checklist persists across visits