When you were a kid, winter break was the ultimate freedom: Full of unscheduled time for fun! Of course, between managing the gift-giving and family gathering and wrapping up the business year at work, the holidays now often mean the opposite. Here are three simple tips for keeping your holidays low-stress, so you can enjoy the season.
- Schedule breaks. It’s important to take breaks to stay energized and prevent burnout. Unfortunately, it can be tempting to avoid breaks when you’re in the middle of something… which is always. If you schedule your breaks ahead of time, it’s easier to remember them — and stick to them.
- Prioritize intelligently. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when everything feels like your top priority. If you aren’t sure what should be at the top of your list, try using the Eisenhower Matrix to sort your tasks by urgency and importance. This will help you choose what to focus on, what to delegate, and what to ditch completely.
- Focus on this year’s goals. Don’t be so hyper-aware of 2019 hurtling towards you that you forget it’s still 2018! In order to start the new year fresh, it’s important to identify your end-of-year priorities and get them wrapped up and off your plate. What were your goals for the year, and did you achieve them? This is the perfect time to check.
The holidays might come with more homework these days than they did when you were a kid, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be fun! If you thoughtfully manage your stress at work, you’ll be free to enjoy the season once you clock out.