Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
The holiday season is officially in full swing, and so are fourth quarter and year-end deadlines! While we look forward to celebrating the holidays, unwinding and relaxing a bit, projects still need to be completed and delivered, deadlines met, basically, stuff needs to get done…
Not to mention many of our colleagues and reports are taking time off, and getting the job done without overtaking team members and stressing ourselves out right before we have to go spend time with our dreadful great-uncle: not so much! Especially when 85% of businesses do not bring in extra staff to help with mounting business demands, and workloads tend to be delegated to the employees who are here (and already drowning under their own pile of work). So how do we manage our workloads, be merry and remain sane all at the same time:
1. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! I usually have a spreadsheet built listing all my projects by deadline and importance. The more urgent goes first, and the rest gets re-arranged as effectively as possible. Ain’t nobody trying to be Superwoman…
2. Set clear expectations! Before any major holiday or busy time at work, have a talk with your manager and team, so as to set clear expectations! Do not overstretch yourself when you know it’s unlikely you’ll be able to deliver! Give yourself some extra padding room and plan accordingly!
3. Take time for yourself! In the midst of the holiday shuffle at work and at home, plan some time for yourself. Request time off in advance, block off some time away even from family (lengthy showers and bathroom breaks do count), and take a breather! The better you are, the better your life and work is (and the safer everyone around too…)
How do you manage your workload during the holidays?
The Corporate Sis.
