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The Seven Pillars of a Happy Holiday Season

Published on Dec 12, 2022
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For many professionals, the holidays can be a time of increased stress and strain. Not only are we still juggling our home and work lives, but we have loads of extra events, tasks, projects, and responsibilities. These extras must be worked into our already hectic lives. The resulting added stress can create massive burnout, which can diminish our enjoyment of the season. Running yourself into the ground just before the start of a new year sets you and your firm up for frustration and slowed forward progress. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of holiday burnout! Approach this season intentionally, aware that moderation and motivation can find a harmonious balance, allowing you both space for quiet and community. Here are the seven pillars to help you maintain your balance during the holiday season:

Say NO!

Be conscious of how many extra tasks you take on. It’s ok, in fact, it’s HEALTHY to say NO frequently and often, especially during the holidays. Consider which activities you enjoy the most during the holidays and create parameters regarding what you will and will not take on. Set this plan in advance so that you aren’t agreeing to or declining activities in a haphazard manner. This strategy will allow you to say no without guilt. You’ll get a lot of asks during this month for both personal and professional events. That’s okay! If you’re willing to set a plan and stick to it, you can decline invitations kindly and respectfully with the understanding that you’re keeping your plate as full as you’d like it to be.

Create boundaries

It becomes very tempting to blur the lines between your home and work lives during the holidays. Avoid crossing boundaries as much as possible! Stick to working during your scheduled work hours. When you’re at work, focus on work. When you’re at home, focus on yourself and your wellbeing. Keep those boundaries clearly defined. Your mind will stay focused, and you will feel far less role conflict when you create clear boundaries in your life. When lines become blurred, it can be easy to lose sight of your intentions, goals, and priorities.

Set and manage expectations

None of us can “do it all,” especially as the end of the year introduces mounting pressures. Be reasonable when scheduling out business goals this month. December is a month with lots of vacation requests, so you’re likely not operating at full capacity in the office. Take that into account as you look at tasks to accomplish by the end of year and be sure you are setting yourself and your team up for success. Consider creating department deadlines that factor in a reduced number of team members. As needed, re-assign tasks or projects to accommodate. Keep meetings short and on task and use reports to ensure that the office remains on track no matter what the vacation calendar looks like. Finally, communicate holiday business hours to your clients so they understand response times and office closures well in advance.

Look out for your coworkers

At Vista, we don’t use the word, “staff.” We use “team member.” We believe that every single employee is part of a team working with the firm mission and vision in mind, and working on a team means supporting teammates as needed. Look out for your teammates at this time of year. Do you see signs of burnout? Do you notice a coworker who seems uncharacteristically irritated, is experiencing an unusual lack of production, is calling out sick, or isn’t as engaged as normal? This can be a tough and stressful time of year, and your colleagues may be going through a difficult period. Take the time to practice some space and grace and lift each other up. Be sure to actively listen to your teammates. Work with each other to solve problems, validate emotions, and raise the white flag if needed.

Practice self compassion

When a friend or family member experiences a difficulty, a stressful situation, or a work setback, take note of how you speak with that person. Likely, it’s with compassion and understanding. Now listen to the voice in your own head as you look at your to-do list, experience a difficulty, or make a mistake at work. Do you grant yourself the same compassion you inherently grant those you love? Studies show that practicing self compassion actually helps us grow by allowing for setbacks to foster growth. Self compassion is always an important muscle we should flex, but it’s even more important during a busy and stressful time of year when we feel pulled in different directions and need some positive self-talk.

Take time to give back

When you feel the grip of holiday pressure taking over, consider a positive move that can serve to lift spirits and put things into perspective. Giving back to your community can help alleviate depression and focus frazzled energy. This could be individual volunteering or something that involves the whole firm, like a toy drive, a canned food donation station, adopting a family in need, a meal drive, or another local volunteer activity. These activities help cement your firm in the community, give you a break from personal and work stress, unite your team, and hopefully spread some cheer and uplift others along the way!

Don’t forget your holiday spirit

This time of year should be filled with joy, gratitude, and happiness. So, remember to enjoy the holidays. Congratulate yourself for following your plan for the holidays, saying no when needed, and focusing on what’s important. Don’t spend time worrying about what you couldn’t do. Instead, focus on what you did accomplish and congratulate yourself for another year of hard work and a bright future ahead. You have the tools to help yourself and your team through a holiday season.

Wishing you an end of year filled with peace, love, and joy!

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