It's tough to get things done during the holiday season. The holidays signal a time of rest before the new year, but you're also wrapping up the final quarter and want to finish strong. From cross-country travel and holiday parties, trying to wrap up Q4 and plan for 2020 doesn't leave much time to settle down, reflect, and spend time with the people who matter most. Before getting paralysis from holiday overwhelm, we got some tips to help you get it all done.
Plan and Set SMART Goals
Diving into a stressful situation without a plan is guaranteed failure. A good plan rests on the foundation of SMART goals.
- Specific – Eliminate the fog and vagueness. That leads to excuses. Understand and write down exactly what you want to accomplish. And tell people about it.
- Measurable – Identify the metrics you'll use to measure success.
- Attainable – Be realistic. Set goals you can actually accomplish based on available time and resources.
- Relevant – Make sure the goal is something you need to get done before the year's end.
- Time-bound – Without a deadline, a goal is just a dream.
Eliminate Technological Barriers to Productivity
To meet your goals, you or your team might have to allow time for things like data entry and pulling multiple reports to access needed information. Any technology you’re using for your business should be as simple and practical as possible for you to do what you need to do. The cloud is currently doing that for data. As you're using your enterprise applications, evaluate them, and take notes on needed improvements heading into the new year.
Maximize Each Day
You'll likely be working with less time and less staff to get things done. Focus on maximizing the value of each team member each day, leading up to the holidays. Prioritize heavy mental ram tasks for the mornings when brains are fresher and more efficient. Save the afternoons for work that requires less mental ram-like expense reports, invoices, emails, and scheduling meetings.
Keep Active
As you're working harder and probably snacking harder, it's important to keep the blood pumping even if you're not trying to lose weight. Schedule breaks for physical activity during the day. You can try a series of small breaks, or a longer one in the afternoon post-lunch. One company found that taking two 15-minute walks per day increase company productivity by 30%. Exercising refreshes you mentally and physically so you can keep going longer and harder when you need to.
Schedule Time Off
Like exercise, it seems counterintuitive at first. But taking time off refills your tank. It improves health and well-being, boosts morale, and helps you avoid burnout. Knowing you have a reward ahead – like time off at the end of the year – is added fuel to keep you productive during the holiday season.
