Tips For Staying Productive Through The Holiday Season

By Author: Jamie Hanson
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We don't think we have to tell you...the holidays are around the corner. For most of us this means a frenzied fury of gift buying, party attending (or planning!), travel, cooking/eating and all the fun the holidays is known for. While there's nothing more special than the holidays, it can be hard to get everything done. Here are some of our favorite tips for staying productive through the holiday season. Now doesn't that make you a bit jolly? We thought so!

Plan ahead. This is a very simple productivity tip, yet people ignore it so often. Some things for the holiday happen every year. You'll always buy gifts. You'll always send holiday cards. You'll probably always cook a holiday meal and travel to see loved ones. Try to plan in advance for this as much as you can. Buy your airline ticket early, you'll get a great bargain and you won't worry or stress over buying a plane ticket at the last minute. Start your holiday gift buying, with a gift list in hand, as soon as you can. Plan ahead!

Keep it simple. Everyone has heard of that popular K.I.S.S., and it is no more popular than in today's climate. With our troubled ...
... economy and frenzied lifestyle, it's important and so helpful to keep things simple whenever you can. One person I know buys every adult on his holiday gift list a gift card to a popular retailer - they love it! There are times you have to get elaborate and other times the simple solution is best. Start looking for simple solutions, because often they work.

Group projects, errands and tasks. This is often suggested and we'd like to encourage it. Look at your workday and your holiday tasks and see how you can group projects, errands and tasks to get things accomplished. Many executives set aside certain times to return calls during the day or to answer e-mails. Take time after the meeting to finish the project you just brainstormed about. By grouping projects, errands and tasks, often you'll find your day runs smoother and you can get more done.

Take good care of yourself. This is just common good sense, but you'd be surprised how many people neglect themselves, especially at holiday time. Now is the time when you need to eat properly, get enough sleep, exercise and avoid excess caffeine and alcohol.

Take time for a little fun. This sounds counterintuitive to getting your work done, but it actually works for both work and your personal life. Take time to enjoy some of your favorite holiday things, whether it's your child's holiday concert, cutting down a Christmas tree or just walking through the snow. Watch your energy soar as you enjoy some of your favorite things. Think for a minute about doing something you love for an hour or two. How do you feel? Probably you feel terrific, like you could do a lot more at work when you got back.

You can stay productive during the holiday season!

Article provided for your mental health during the holidays by your friends at Galorath, Inc., providing cost estimation tools and parametric cost estimating to help you plan your next project as smoothly as you plan your holiday.