We’re in December and for many of you that means some of the biggest celebrations of the year are coming up fast.
At work that could mean a nice wind-down and lots of Christmas parties (hello to my Aussie and Kiwi friends who know how to have an excellent time with their Christmas summer break!), but for many it’s a stressful period with too many things to get done before you switch on your Out-of-Office message.
I’d love to help you stay sane with these tips for winding down early so you can look forward to a break without unfinished work.
Tip #1: Take time today (or this week!) to review what MUST be finished before the break and block time in your calendar so you can focus on these tasks that need to be completed.
Be ruthless with your calendar and make sure time is allocated for the non-negotiables. Other stuff will have to wait.
Tip #2: Think about the coming year and give yourself an hour to write down your goals and priorities as well as any ideas, thoughts, etc. related to them. Do a complete braindump. This ensures nothing is forgotten and it’s out of your head and on paper so you can put it aside while you’re on a break.
Tip #3: Now think about who you want to connect with before the break. It can be a short message, a voice note, an email or a call. Be intentional about getting in touch before you go on your break so you can pick things up more easily in the new year.
That’s it for this week. Three short tips to help you start your wind-down early so you can leave work behind as you focus on spending time with family and friends, or traveling or reflecting.
Note: if this time of year is difficult for you because you’ve lost a loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or to others close to you for help 🧡
Have a wonderful week!
Eva