Everybody is in the same boat at this time of the year: plenty of work to cram in before the break, busy WE’s, social events to attend after hours. It’s easy to go with the fast flow of December and get into a frenzy, only to abruptly stop (and crash sometimes) at Christmas. Is there a better way to manage those last few weeks? You bet there is. Those are actually some of my preferred weeks of the year, because I slow down and start reaping up the benefits. So let me explain how to reverse the trend and end up peaceful before Christmas.
First up let’s look at our work schedules and workload. It’s pretty common for things to accelerate, as people naturally realise there is a shortage of time. Suddenly, everything is due, like now. It’s just a human thing, we all work faster when there is an impending deadline. My advice is to not take on other people’s stress and plan your own work days. Don’t confuse other people’s priorities with yours, it is not because they ask that you need to deliver. If you are a people pleaser, watch out in those last weeks as you feel obliged to say yes. Decide on your top 3 priorities for the day each morning, and stick to them. Give people cut-off dates for projects involving collaboration and say no beyond these points.
Another watch out at work is the tendency to want to wrap it all up as best as possible. How about the contrary? My habit is to radically sort out my work tasks as I near Christmas to keep the ‘less important but needs doing’ stuff for afterwards. Create a folder in your inbox and store everything that you can attend to during the break if you work through, or in the first week back which will still be quiet. Then you can file in there everything that you won’t get done right now. Here is your permission slip. How good does this feel?
Now we need to talk about the rest of your life. Because Christmas is all about family, according to research that I’m conducting in my side job. This means work really isn’t a priority this month. Being in a state of mind to enjoy Christmas is. I’m leaving you with my three recommendations to keep you relaxed and in the right frame of mind:
- Plan a day with your loved one(s): block time in your calendar, even a couple of hours, where you will just hang with them prior to Christmas. It could be a picnic in the park, a movie night at home, attending a concert, having breakfast out. But the trick is no friends, no relatives. Grab your bestie, or your partner and your kids. No agenda, just enjoy the present time with them.
- Plan one activity for you: yes, here is another permission slip. Haven’t you worked hard all year? Of course you have. So take a few hours to treat yourself. For me it’s my end of year massage, with a lunch in the sun with a long-term friend. What’s your activity?
- Watch your energy levels: it’s easy to just ‘push through’ at this time of the year, only to fall sick the minute we stop or relax. So if you are feeling particularly tired or achy, shave things off your list, take short-cuts. Leave on time. It’s not worth putting on a bravery act or trying to look good at this time of the year, people are too busy to notice anyway.
I hope you can now see the next few weeks with a fresh perspective: forget the busyness and the mountain of things to organise, think about your special oasis of time. You will get the rest done around that. But the little bits of quality time won’t appear by chance in the middle. Trust me it’s a great feeling not to arrive at Christmas on your knees, and instead to have a big smile on your face. Let me know in the comments what you will book for yourself! I wish you a peaceful end of the year.
