3 Steps to Balance Your Workload During the Hectic Holiday Season

The holiday season can be hectic for many reasons. Throughout November and December, many of us juggle our careers, coordinate family gatherings, and participate in religious or family traditions. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or something else entirely, the bustling spirit of the holidays can be both joyful and frenzied at times. Keep these three steps in mind to balance your workload effectively during this season:

Define Your Work and Holiday Priorities

Before the holiday rush begins, sit down with your spouse or family members and figure out your main priorities for the season. As you discuss what is most important, it becomes easier to schedule and coordinate tasks. Be realistic about commitments and the time you have available. This might mean you need to decline an invite, and that’s okay. Consider crafting polite ways to say “no” to events that don’t align with your priorities. Once you have your holiday goals established, focusing on your work projects will be that much simpler.

Set Boundaries to Separate Personal Time from Work Time

It’s easy to get caught up in doing multiple things at once (especially around the holidays). It is important to be intentional with your time by setting boundaries. If you’re spending time with your family, put your work phone down. If you’re working, try to mentally set aside your holiday tasks for that period of time. As you move from day to day, it may be helpful to take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Then, write your work projects on one side of the paper and your holiday responsibilities on the other (instead of creating one overwhelming list). Not only will this help you mentally shift gears between the two, it will also keep separation and balance between your professional work and your personal holiday goals.

Carve Out Time for Yourself

Even though the holidays are often spent surrounded by family, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice time spent focusing on yourself. In fact, the flurry of holiday activities might make it even more important to reserve a chunk of time to care for yourself. Your time to reflect, recharge, and unwind is important – and it should be built into your schedule with as much priority as other tasks and goals. Ultimately, maintaining that balance between personal, work, and family time will create the most value during your holiday season.

While end-of-year festivities can be fun and exciting, it can also be difficult to coordinate and fit everything in. So, make sure to keep your values aligned with your priorities throughout the holidays. Defining priorities, setting boundaries, and carving out time for yourself can lead you to a more peaceful and enjoyable holiday season.