It’s safe to say that the holidays are not around the corner any longer, they are front and center, demanding our attention. Next week begins the whirlwind of food, family, and gift-giving that will propel us through to the New Year. As we all know, this whirlwind lands squarely on top of an already-full plate. And this is why most of us perceive the holidays to be a stressful time of year, and that can certainly be the case. So this week here are a few tips for all you working folks out there on how to keep the stress at bay so that you can better enjoy the season!
Schedule. The additional tasks and limited time constraints during the holidays make it a good idea to schedule your day before it begins. In fact, you could start each work week with a schedule so that you know what will be demanded of you. Being able to transition from one project to another seamlessly will afford you more extra time to complete those projects, or simply more time for yourself, a very good thing!
Realistic Goals. When scheduling you days, keep in mind what is realistic for you to accomplish. Ladling too much on your plate will only make your days stressful and frustrating because completing those tasks will be difficult at best, and possibly impossible. Be mindful of the time you really do have rather than wishful for the amount of time that you want to have. There will never be more than 24 hours in a day no matter what you do to challenge that fact, so you might as well accept it and embrace it!
Delegate. Don’t take it all on yourself if you can involve other people. Not only will projects be completed more quickly, you’ll also be contributing to a healthy workplace morale through the teamwork. However, don’t dump projects on others’ laps (they are just as stressed as you are) but rather invite the whole team in in such a way to make it a company goal that everyone will feel a sense of accomplishment upon completion.
Breathe! This one is most important of all, taking time out for yourself to relax and recharge will allow you to enjoy the season rather than solely focusing on everything that needs to be done. Take the efficient schedule you’ve created for each week ad make sure there is time in there for you! Treat yourself! The holidays shouldn’t be solely for other people, they are also a time to give gifts to yourself. You deserve it!
We hope that this holiday season is as relaxing for you as can be and filled with lots of extra time for fun!
Jessie Williams, Marketing Coordinator