It’s the holiday season, and in the blink of an eye, your calendar has filled up with work holiday parties, your kids’ holiday recitals and field trips, and family gatherings. So much to do, so little time. Take a breath and remember—the holidays are meant to be a time of joy.
You don’t have to do it all, but you can prioritize quality time over striving to do it all and be it all for everyone. It’s easy to get lost in the busyness of the season and miss out on the magic that defines it. Instead of stressing about everything on your calendar, here’s how to optimize your time and make the most out of the season.
Batch Tasks on Your To-Do List
If you have batched your tasks before, you know that it’s a time management game-changer. Whether you batch entire days or chunks of time for certain types of work, batching tasks is the ultimate way to optimize your time. The idea is to block out time for certain tasks during certain days or times of the day, like cooking, cleaning, or creative brainstorming.
For example, you might be most creative in the mornings. So you could use this time to write, draw, paint, design, or whatever creative work entails. Later in the day, you might focus on more administrative tasks like taking phone calls and appointments. Batching your tasks is all about showing up in the right state of mind for the right job.
Block Out Time to Recharge
Rest should be a priority during the busyness of the holiday season. Think about it: On one hand, the holidays are the most joyful time of the year. On the other hand, the holidays can also be stressful and germ-ridden. If you want to truly optimize your time, rest has to be on your agenda. Whether it’s time to go for a 30-minute walk, reading a book with your morning cup of coffee, or meditating for 10 minutes, you need time for yourself. Don’t feel guilty for taking it.
Change Solo Tasks Into Group Activities
If you want to optimize your time during the hustle and bustle of this season, don’t do everything alone. For all the Type A people out there, it might be your default to dive in head first into your daily tasks without asking for help. Instead, make your tasks into fun, group activities. If you are baking holiday desserts for work events or your child’s holiday party, turn it into a family affair. Invite your kids or your spouse into the kitchen to bake with you. It will make the time go faster, and it will feel a lot less like work and more like fun.
Lean Into Early Mornings
As the holidays loom near, you might be tempted to burn the midnight oil, but don’t. In the words of Rachel, if you own the morning, then you own the day. So as best as possible, stick to your normal routine. Your immune system will thank you. You can use this time to workout, journal, hydrate, caffeinate, and ground yourself before the day starts. If you need more time, wake up a little earlier to work on your holiday to-do list. The early morning quiet is ideal to accomplish gift wrapping, decorating, or any last minute work items you need to close out before the holiday break.
Embrace Simplicity
When it comes to the holidays, less is more. If there is anything on your to-do list that brings you more anxiety than joy, cut it off. There’s nothing you have to do. Remove the pressure to decorate your home like a magazine cover or bake an award-winning turkey.
The holiday season will go on if you don’t have the decorations up by December 1 or bake the perfect holiday cookies for your child’s third grade class. Perfection is not the goal. Instead, put the tree up on a weekend when you have more time, and don’t be afraid to buy store-bought cookies—they’ll still get eaten!
