Focus on What Matters During the Holidays

The most wonderful time of the year can also be stressful. Trying to get everything finished up by year-end and juggling holiday parties, shopping, decorating, volunteering, travel and more –  can make you feel overwhelmed.

Here are some tips to finding work-life balance during the holidays and every day.

1. Say NO sometimes.
   You don’t have to say “Yes” to every opportunity that comes your way this holiday season. Every time you get invited to a party, office event or are asked to volunteer for your kids’ events, consider whether you want to go, or if doing so is the best use of your time. If not, use that freed-up time to relax. Spend time with your family. Do something you wouldn’t otherwise have time to do. Keeping focused and maintaining a good work-life balance sometimes means saying no.
2. Avoid stress.
   If cooking for a large gathering, baking cookies, or holiday shopping stress you out, don’t do them. Lots of grocery stores can help cater your next holiday meal, bakeries have scrumptious offerings, and gift cards are appreciated by all. You don’t need to live up to perceived expectations of the holidays – by outsourcing your pain points, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself more.
3. Make a list.
   Make a giant, to-do list for yourself, including both work and personal, then divide it up into categories like “must do,” “want to do,” and “feel obligated to do.” Once you have your lists in order, it’s time to start crossing things off. In between your must-do tasks, include a want-to-do task to break things up and re-energize yourself. The holidays are a time to give back to others and be selfless, but you need to be sure to take care of yourself.
   And speaking of taking care of yourself…
4. Don’t tough it out.
   The best way to stop a cold from escalating into full-blown misery is to stop it at the start. Unless a task or activity is an absolute necessity, cancel your plans and settle in for a long winter’s nap. A day of rest is the only thing you need to do. Don’t feel badly about canceling on friends and family – or calling in sick to work…you’re doing them a favor. Give your body a chance to heal. Once people hear that you’re sick, they’ll be glad you stayed away — they don’t want to come down with a cold during the holidays!

We hope these tips will help you to maintain a healthy balance between work personal obligations – both at the holidays and throughout the year.