With the holiday spirit amongst us, or at least distracting us, it’s hard to stay focused on business the last 2-3 weeks of the year. There are parties to discuss, treats to eat and online shopping to finish!
Customers are busy too so meetings get cancelled and phone calls go unanswered. (This doesn’t apply if you work in retail!) How can you get some work done and keep your employer happy?
Controlled Participation
Take part in the office holiday activities so you don’t feel left out and to build relationships with your co-workers. Then politely leave the office cooler and get back to work.
Managers notice who is continuing to buckle down and who isn’t. If you’re a manager, you need to lead by example with regular hours and keeping focused on productivity.
Finish Projects
The slow times are great for completing tasks requiring concentration or that have been hanging around. You don’t want to be working on the same boring spreadsheet in the New Year, right?
Make a list of tasks you want to complete during each day or the week. Reward yourself with a break at the treat table afterwards.
Clean Your Office
Take advantage of the quiet to file that stack of papers and clean your work area. I’m amazed how quickly the dust builds up. Starting the new year with a clean workplace will get the creative juices going.
Year End Planning
Do you have year end reports or tasks? This is a great time to complete them or at least get a head start.
The reduced demand on your time is the opportunity to reflect on the past year and plan for the next. Develop goals and an action part so you’ll be ready to implement when returning back to the office in January.
It’s just as hard for me to stay motivated as the next person, but these tips keep me focused and result in productive work. How do you stay motivated during the holidays?
photo By DoNotLick
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I’m taking the rest of the year off starting this Friday. It’s always one of my rules to clean my desk and drawers thoroughly before I leave for a vacation. It helps keep me fresh when I come back.
I’m off starting Wednesday and will be taking my own advice. Have a happy holiday week!
When I worked in industry, I stated to get busy (former CFO) doing year end kinds of things before the busy season. Auditors usually arrived early the following year.
Krantcents, that is a very busy role at the end of the year. Our crew is missing the last week of December due to company shutdown so they’re really hopping!
I stay motivated during holidays by spending time with family and friends. I am off from this Wednesday onwards
SB, enjoy your time off. Nothing can replace time with loved ones.
I’m actually busy right now getting all the budget planning ducks in a row. About the 3rd week of January, I’ll be asked for quarterly projections, and it’s much easier to concentrate on my spreadsheets when the office is quiet.
I stay motivated by reminding myself everyday of having a job and being thankful.
FS, you would think that would be motivation enough for most people! The job market has picked up a lot in the tech field to the point that thousands of jobs are unfilled in San Diego and I’m sure in your neck of the woods too.
Great tips to stay motivated during the holidays – Im trying to wrap up quite a few projects now, and then i’ll need to clean my desk!
Jeff, it is nice to come back to the office after vacation to a clean start!
Good post! My kids are coming in to town and offer multiple distractions. But-work does not change. Thanks for the suggestions.
I would think your patients keep you so busy, there’s no need for these tips. Have a wonderful holiday!
These are lovely tips for doing work during holidays. I usually prefer to organize my things and have a nice cup of coffee. I also make sure to have all the raw material for coffee making. A cup of coffee keeps me refreshed and motivated.
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