“How do I stay focused on work during the holidays?”
If you are working from home, this adds an extra challenge, posing the question:
“How can I stay home and stay focused at work?”
Even though it is one of the most wonderful times of the year, the holidays can be a productivity killer. So how can you balance celebrating the season while keeping productivity high? Here are 5 tips on how to stay productive during the busy holiday season.
Plan
Make a to-do list of your priorities, estimate the time it will take you to finish each assignment, block time in your calendar for these assignments, and then start your work. Stick with your plan, it will help you stay on the right track.
Don’t over commit
Saying “yes” to all requests while at work during the holidays only sets you up for failure – given that you’re probably having trouble concentrating in the first place.
So, be selective with what you take on – list all your work, and decide what are your most important and most urgent tasks and goals for this time period. You don’t have to do everything that comes your way.
While you may enjoy being the social planner and party decorator. The right way to embrace the holidays is not by fully surrendering to the preparation of festivities, the partying and decoration. Let someone else take the lead.
You can still be helpful and participate in the celebrations, but remember that your time is valuable too. Especially if you will have to face specific end-of-year deadlines, the holiday spirit can easily be replaced by anxiety when deadlines loom.
Ask your loved ones to respect your work hours
Working while your loved ones are planning festive get-togethers means you’re bound to get caught in at least some of the logistical problems. To make sure you get quality work done, you’ll need to explain that you won’t be able to help your loved ones as much as you would like. Be clear on the times of day you won’t be able to answer their calls and requests – and instruct them how to reach you if there’s an absolute emergency.
Avoid multitasking
The number one biggest distractor during the festive season? Personal holiday errands. So don’t bring them to work. While you are at work, or during your work hours (those of you who work from home.) don’t shop, organize parties or do travel planning. Keep it work related.
Be flexible
Can you start your day earlier sometimes? That way you can leave earlier to run holiday related errands or bake cookies for your kids school holiday party.
Can you take a few days off? If you have a couple of vacation days left, use them to do some holiday shopping and spend some quality time with your family and friends. This way, you’ll feel at least a little bit refreshed and recharged when you go back to the office, and thus more likely to focus on work in a productive manner.
Staying focused on work during the holidays isn’t impossible – it just takes some planning and discipline. If you follow these tips, you’ll be certain to have both enough focus for your work and enough time to take in at least some of the holiday spirit.
Happy holidays everyone and share this post with your friends and family who might benefit from these holiday tips!
