You have decked the halls, but now you need to work in them. There are tons of distractions for everyone during the holidays, but working from home amplifies them. With so much to get done in your personal life, staying professional gets harder.
To avoid wrapping presents and online shopping, set up some guidelines to keep you on the right track while you’re on the clock.
Set Up (And Stick to) Strict Goals
It can be hard at the best of times to stay motivated while working from your desk or kitchen table at home, so employ the same tactics for accomplishing tasks you normally do. The trick to managing that during the holidays is to tighten your own reins.
While, at other times during the year, you might allow yourself an hour or so of leeway, don’t during the holidays. Set daily (or hourly) goals and get the jobs done. You’ll feel better at the end of your list and get things done faster, leaving more time for eggnog.
Keep Up With Your Normal Routine
Tempting as it might be to sleep an extra hour after a party that ran late or close down shop an hour early to pick out a Christmas tree, it is important to keep your routine intact during the holidays.
Like working out, you have conditioned your brain to be “on” during your typical working rituals and hours. Breaking these habits will not only affect your performance during the holidays but might also hurt your work when you return in the new year.
Sticking to your normal schedule will keep you focused and on track to take care of business in the usual excellent manner your employer or client has come to expect.
Give Yourself Plenty of Personal Time
Even your downtime during the holidays can be stressful, so make sure to divide your day into manageable chunks. Give yourself enough time in the evenings or mornings to accomplish things on your holiday checklist.
Make sure to enjoy the time not spent in front of your computer screen, so that when it comes time to buckle down, you don’t feel overwhelmed by external pressures.
If you find yourself falling behind on either side, reevaluate your plan and adjust to fit your needs. Just like your holiday social schedule, figure out the compromises and balance that works for you.
Keeping yourself on track is the key to achieving balance during the holiday season, so grab your cup of hot chocolate, turn up the holiday jams, put the yule log on the TV, and get down to business. It will make your time off to celebrate that much better.
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