Holiday Harmony: 6 Techniques to Balance Work and Life During Christmas

Photo: NORTHFOLK / Unsplash

Christmas: That magical time of year when you’re expected to be productive at work, festive with your family, and somehow maintain your sanity in all the tinsel-covered chaos. If you’re feeling like you’re being pulled in more directions than a wishbone at Thanksgiving dinner, we feel you. That tends to be our experience every year, which is why we’ve worked up this list of techniques to help you achieve that elusive work-life balance during the Christmas season. With a bit of luck, they’ll help you hold onto your sense of humor (and your job).

1. Master the Art of Strategic Procrastination

Whether you work on your own terms in a premium Melbourne coworking space or have a manager breathing down your neck in your London office, strategic procrastination is a must during the holiday season. Make a list of your work tasks and personal holiday to-dos, then ruthlessly categorize them, putting off anything that can wait until after Christmas. The one rule here is that if you have to delay something, you must communicate this clearly with all parties involved.

2. Delegate What You Can’t Delay

Whether at work or home, don’t be afraid to delegate. Assign tasks to team members, rope in your family for holiday preparations, and even consider outsourcing some of your holiday tasks using platforms like Fiverr.

3. Embrace the Power of “No”

If you can’t delay or delegate it, and it’s not going to add value to your personal or professional life, consider using the magic of “no”. Of course, a blunt “no” during the season of giving can make you feel like the Grinch, so feel free to dress yours up with any excuses that fit (e.g. “I’d love to, but I’m currently trapped under a mountain of gift wrap and regret”). And remember: every “no” to an unnecessary commitment is a “yes” to your sanity.

4. Turn Your Commute into a Wonderland of Productivity

If you’re commuting to work, make those travel hours count. Use this time to knock out personal holiday tasks that don’t require you to be physically present. Call your sister to organize this year’s cringey family Christmas sweater, browse online baby stores for gifts for the kids, check over your budget to ensure you don’t have any nasty surprises in January – all the fun stuff.

5. Create a “Do Not Disturb” Snow Globe

In this age of constant connectivity, it’s crucial to set boundaries. So don’t be shy about setting specific hours for work and sticking to them. Outside those hours, let calls go to voicemail and emails remain unread.

Tech Tip: Set up an out-of-office message that says, “I’m currently trapped in a snow globe. I’ll respond when I shake myself out of it.”

6. Practice Mindful Merriment

Last but not least, remember to stay present (pun intended). It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle and forget to actually enjoy the season. Take a few minutes each day to appreciate the little things – the twinkle of lights, the smell of pine, the taste of a steaming-hot gingerbread latte.

Remember, achieving perfect work-life balance during the holidays is about as likely as finding a partridge in a pear tree. But with these techniques, you can navigate the season with a bit more grace, and hopefully, a shred of sanity left for the New Year. So go forth, be merry, and may your coffee be stronger than your holiday stress.