You Can Enjoy the Holidays by Regina M. Weiner As holidays near, the excitement of family gatherings, vacations, and festive celebrations often comes with a sense of urgency at work: things to wrap up, deadlines to meet, and everything in its place so you can finally relax and enjoy yourself. To help you slide into the season with ease, here’s a list of all those things you need to do at work this week to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable holiday break.
1. Prioritize and Organize Your Tasks
First of all, take a look at your workload and structure your priorities. Identify the urgent and most important things that you are supposed to do before going on holiday. Now, divide big tasks into smaller ones and set pragmatic deadlines for each. Organizing your to-do list will help you focus on what needs to be done without feeling overwhelmed by the larger picture.
2. Communication with Team and Clients
The best way to ensure peace of mind pre-holiday is through communication. Let your team and clients know how available you will be during the holiday period. Send confirmation emails about meetings, updates on projects in progress, and expectations for your response times. If you are going to be out for an extended period, put up an out-of-office email and phone message, and make sure others can cover key tasks if necessary.
Use Asana, Trello, or any other simple calendar system that visually presents your tasks and their respective deadlines.
Don’t forget to update your calendar, so colleagues can see when you’re unavailable.
3. Tie Up Loose Ends
Before leaving for the holidays, ensure that any ongoing projects are completed or handed off to someone who can manage them in your absence. This includes finalizing reports, wrapping up client communications, and addressing any pressing issues. If there are projects that can’t be completed before your break, set clear next steps for the team or colleagues who will be taking over the work.
Consider creating a “handover” document so that any unfinished business is seamlessly handed over with all the details in place.
4. Clean Up and Organize Your Workspace
Nothing feels quite so good as returning to work after a break and finding your workplace clean and neat. Clean up your desk, file important documents, and get rid of clutter. This will not only make you feel more accomplished but also reduce stress when you come back to work in the New Year.
5. Set Up Your Out-of-Office
Setting an out-of-office email and phone message is imperative in managing expectations while one is away. State dates of your absence, provide an alternate contact for urgent matters and let people know when they can hear back from you. This proactive step will prevent your inbox from overwhelming you upon return and give you peace of mind as you go off.
6. Prepare for the New Year
As you close out this year, take some time to look ahead. Block out some time to plan for next year, whether that includes setting goals, outlining key projects, or mapping out your first few weeks back. Starting the new year with a clear vision and a plan will reduce post-holiday stress and help you hit the ground running.
7. Take Care of Yourself
The end of the year may be stressful, but taking care of your well-being is important. Prioritize self-care and avoid overcommitting to work obligations. Take breaks, stay hydrated, and make time for activities that help you relax. A well-rested mind and body will put you in the best position to enjoy your holiday and return to work rejuvenated.
Make sure to check your calendar for any upcoming appointments or meetings that need to be rescheduled or canceled. Consider scheduling a planning session for the first week back to ensure you’re ready for the year ahead.
Make time to disconnect from work completely not check your emails or even take work calls outside the office hours.
By tackling these tasks at work this week, you’ll be able to fully disconnect and enjoy the holidays without worrying about unfinished work. With careful planning, clear communication, and organization, you can enter the festive season with a sense of accomplishment and a calm mind. That way, when the holiday break finally arrives, you can enjoy it to the fullest and come back to work refreshed and ready for the year ahead.
