I can’t believe the holiday season is upon us! Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago that you were putting away the holiday decorations and getting ready to clean up the paper wrapping thrown all over the floor? Well, here we are again quickly approaching the most festive time of year while trying to juggle hosting, shopping and gatherings. With so much going on, you may tend to lose focus when it comes to sit down to get work done.
There are many demands and expectations that we put on ourselves and our work during the holidays that it’s very easy to become overwhelmed at times. Many tend to loose focus because their to do lists are a mile long with travel, guest preparations,parties and so on and so forth that we already have enough to juggle on our daily schedules. All of this can affect personal stress which often affects work performance and can diminish your productivity. In addition, if you work from home, it can sometimes make everything more challenging.
So how are you able to stay productive during this amazing time of year you ask? I’m so glad you asked. Below are a few tips to help you stay productive during the busy holiday season!
1.) Clear Your Mind– When you have to tackle your long laundry list of things to get done, instead of feeling overwhelmed, try and clear your mind for both our professional and personal well being. One way to do this, is writing everything down including projects both large and small. Once you see all your commitments and what you need or want to get done in a timely manner, decide which to drop and which you can wait until the new year begins. Give yourself time to space out a few things here and there so you don’t become double booked at events or your time is pressed.
2.) Take Vacation/Time Off– If you have a few vacation days available, take the time during the holiday season to do a little shopping or enjoy a day with your loved ones. This will give you a chance to refresh and recharge during the busy holiday season and really take in the moment of what the holiday season is about.
3.) Get Ahead With Education Courses/Webinars – If you want to stay on top of your work as well as education, try to schedule a webinar or course to take during the holiday season. This will help you stay on track and up to date with what is happening in your field. For instance, a company called iMedx offers a variety of knowledgeable and well thought out webinars and courses for those interested in broadening their talents to the next level as a medical transcriptionist. This company, located in Atlanta, Georgia offers a variety of trainings, webinars, and coding tips to keep you feeling your best even while your away from the office. iMedx offers a high value revenue cycle management solutions including result-based consulting, education, training opportunities ,data analytics and coding services!
4.) Avoid Multitasking (if possible)– While it may be easy to try and work on a few things while others are happening, in order to stay productive, you’re not doing your best work. As wonderful as conference calls, online shopping, and listening to music go together, it will probably won’t end well since your focus is somewhere else. If you have a lot of things going on you should try making a list and doing one thing at a time. For example, put that load of laundry in firs thing in the morning, then head downstairs to make breakfast and freeze it for the holiday brunch your putting on the next day. This is an easy way to multitask while still focusing on what needs to get done.
5.) Take Care of Yourself – While the holidays are a wonderful time, the last thing you want to do is work yourself so hard that you forget to take care of yourself. This means sleep 8-10 hours a night. Set your alarm early to get up, get a work out in, and plan your meals for the week to stay on a healthy track. If you do start to feel a cold coming on, take the necessary precautions to get yourself better as quick as you can. Listen to your body and try not to push yourself so hard that you miss out on all the fun activities and moments you and your family are having without you.
6.) Watch For Distractions – This can be an easy thing to happen when work from home or parties are starting to go on around you at the office. If you are able to step away, try and take your laptop with you to a local coffee shop to finish your work without the distraction of your family or co-workers.
I’m sure there are several other tips to help you stay productive during the holiday season that I haven’t mentioned here! I can’t wait to hear what you think in the comments below! When all else fails, know that your work will always be there, but the memories and moments won’t so do what you can to enjoy your time with loved ones this holiday season.
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