The holiday season is always something to look forward to. Any one of us would be lying, though, to say that the holidays aren’t stressful. Running around, buying gifts, decorating, attending parties, putting together elaborate meals, traveling to see family, and partaking in holiday traditions…it’s a lot to do, especially if you’re already feeling busy and overwhelmed in your professional life.
Here are a few steps you can take to ensure that you can savor the holiday magic with the people you love most:
6 Steps to Take to Enjoy a Busy Holiday Season
Step #1 – Stay in the present.
If you’re going to take the effort to carve out time to do holiday activities, you need to be present to enjoy them. Trust me, I know what it’s like to have a million things on my mind! It’s so easy to become distracted from the good things right in front of us. Therefore, we really need to be intentional about being present and engaged in the moment. That might mean turning off your phone or limiting email notifications.
If you just can’t seem to get work off the brain when you’re in the middle of the festivities or thinking about all that you must get done for the holidays while in the office, take a break. Write down the things you need to do. It will help you place your to-do list in a tangible place, easing the burden on your brain to keep up with it all.
Step #2 – Set priorities and their boundaries.
You’re going to see a common thread throughout each of these steps. It comes down to being prepared and intentional. One of the ways you do this is in establishing clear priorities and boundaries to protect them. What are the essentials that must get done? What are the non-negotiable holiday events and traditions? Establish what matters most to you and then communicate that to your colleagues and family.
Step #3 – Don’t try to do everything.
There’s a temptation to want to partake in every meal, party, and holiday event that comes your way. Let me tell you, it’s impossible to do. You’re going to find that the holidays aren’t all that restful or relaxing if you don’t make time to do it. It’s okay not to go to every party, not to accept every invitation, or to compromise on a few things in order to catch your breath.
It’s okay to say no. You know yourself, so trust your instincts. If it’s going to overwhelm you or put pressure on higher priorities, skip it.
Step #4 – Keep a calendar.
During the holidays, a calendar is a real lifesaver. While I do appreciate the ability to have one on my smartphone, there’s also something nice about a physical calendar, too. Use whatever helps you feel more organized and comfortable. It might be both! Keeping a calendar will allow you to reserve days and times for the things you want and need to do. You’ll be able to more effectively space things out and ensure that you don’t get run ragged.
Step #5 – Plan for the unexpected.
We professionals know that things rarely go according to plan. There will be hiccups and inopportune times. It’s tough to resist the urge to fix these things immediately. I won’t say that there aren’t going to be fires that demand to be put out ASAP, but you’re going to find that so many last-minute, unexpected developments don’t need to be addressed right now. Everyone is busy during the holidays.
Communicate your intentions and a potential timeline, but don’t allow yourself to be dragged away from important family time to address something that can wait until the new year. Make a buffer in your schedule to deal with this stuff or learn to be okay with delaying your response. After all, you want to be focused and level-headed, not rushed.
Step #6 – Be with the people you love.
At the end of the day, you want to treat the holidays as special. Important. Not just something to check off the to-do list. It can get overwhelming, and we can fall into a “get it over with” mindset. But ultimately? Being with your family and loved ones is most important. Regardless of how your work priorities fall into place, understand that this time is short and precious. Make the sacrifices to make those moments meaningful. You – and those around you – will know if you’re xdistracted and disengaged.
So put your heart into the things that truly matter to you.
How do you juggle the busyness of the holidays? Share you tips in the comments.