It’s that time of year again! We know that you have a lot of things going on. You’re trying to get last-minute projects done at work, you have family coming to town, you’re busy baking up a storm, and worried about getting the perfect gift for that special someone. The Holidays are a stressful time of year. And that can kill your productivity, both at work and at home. Here are 10 tips to help you stay productive and make the most of your work day during the Holiday season.
1. Clean out your inbox
We know your inbox has been flooded with reminders to get those 2018 budgets submitted, tons of end-of-year promotions, and even invitations to Holiday networking events. This time of year is the perfect opportunity to clean out that inbox.
Clear out that junk mail, unsubscribe from those newsletters and mailings lists that you never read, and if you’re really feeling ambitious, create folders to organize and categorize your emails. This will help you feel refreshed and organized when you step back into the office in January.
2. Send a thank you note
Take a moment to thank someone that has helped you achieve your goals or someone that has inspired you this past year. If you have a mentor, which we all should if you want to successfully grow your career, now is a perfect time to let them know how much you appreciate their guidance and support.
3. Perfect time to revamp your resume
Even if you’re not currently on the job market, now is a great time to spruce up that resume. Add those newly acquired skills that you just achieved this year or if you received a promotion, update your resume with your new title, responsibilities, and achievements. It’s always good to have a current resume on hand. You never know when you’ll need to use it!
Push up those sleeves, grab a cup of coffee, and start plugging away. Here are some resume must-haves from JSG to help get a head start.
4. Brush up on your interviewing skills
You never know what opportunity awaits you going into the New Year. To prepare yourself for that new job opening at the office or a lucrative job opportunity that you happen to stumble upon, make sure you can answer the most common interview questions.
Need a place to start? Here are 10 typical interview questions and how to best answer them.
5. Reorganize your work space
Want a clean start to 2018? Reorganize your work space. Nobody likes coming back from their Holiday vacation to a messy work environment. Now is a perfect time to clean up your desk or organize your cubicle.
And if you’re really feeling ambitious, create a dream board for 2018. Break out the poster board, grab some markers, and have some fun making a visual representation of your goals going into the New Year. This fun activity not only helps you think about the objectives you want to accomplish next year, but it will help you stay focused on your goals throughout the year.
6. Take your LinkedIn profile to the next level
It’s time to step up your LinkedIn game! Do you have a LinkedIn profile but haven’t touched it in years? The Holiday Season is a great opportunity to sit down and update that old profile picture from seven years ago or give your bio a refresh.
Your LinkedIn profile is searchable on Google and is often one of the first impressions your co-workers, recruiters, or hiring managers have of you. Take a few minutes to do a LinkedIn audit and make sure your profile is up to date and professional. You never know who will see it.
7. Take time off
I know this one may seem a little strange, but it’s important to take time off for yourself. The Holidays are a stressful time of year. To remain productive during this busy time, it’s essential to take some time off to rejuvenate yourself.
Using some of that paid time off will give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries and better prepare yourself to tackle your end-of-year projects in the office.
8. Exercise
We know you’re fighting the urge to eat more of those delicious Christmas cookies that your co-workers keep bringing into the office. However, it is important to maintain a healthy fitness routine. And this isn’t just to combat those extra goodies you’ve been munching on all month.
Maintaining (or even starting) a physical fitness routine during the Holidays will help you stay focused during this stressful time of the year. Exercising will help you stay productive at work by burning off some of that excess energy that’s been distracting you. And a few of those extra calories from the Christmas cookies.
9. Make a list and check it twice
Making lists, for both work and your personal life, will help you stay productive during all the chaos the Holidays bring. Whether your listing out all the projects that need to be wrapped up before the end of the year or writing down the presents you still need to purchase, making lists will help you stay organized and productive.
10. Make the most of your lunch break
We all have experienced our personal calendar intruding into our work life during the Holidays. Your lunch break may be the best time to get some of those extra errands done or do some last-minute Holiday shopping. Or you can even just stay at your desk during your lunch hour to take off a little early and finish some of those Holiday tasks that have been hanging over your head like a mistletoe.
