The last two years have been a whirlwind, especially if you are a hiring manager. As the holidays quickly approach, our work lives become a little more overwhelming. Balancing end-of-the-year projects, finalizing budgets, balancing family time, and working with an understaffed team; this time of the year can be demanding. As a result, it can be more challenging to establish boundaries between work and our personal lives. If this sounds all too familiar, here are some tips for setting work boundaries before the holidays.
Snooze your messages and alerts
For most of us this time of year, we have a lot on our plates. Between juggling end-of-the-year tasks and preparing for the holidays, our free time is limited. Therefore, it’s no surprise when late-night messages come through. If you are looking for an easy way to avoid burnout during this stressful time, try snoozing your work notifications. On apps like Outlook or Microsoft Teams, you can easily set schedules where you can snooze notifications at times you choose. Some of us don’t always have this option but try snoozing work notifications if you struggle to manage your work-life balance. Setting these work boundaries will prevent work alerts from seeping into your personal time and help you rest and unwind. Instead of reading work emails right before bed, you can spend time doing what you love or relaxing!
Take some time off
With many of us unable to travel or take our typical vacations, a common theme throughout the pandemic is letting your paid time off stack up. Even if you are staying home for the holidays, taking time away from work is imperative to establishing work boundaries. It can be challenging to take time off during “crunch time;” however it’s essential to take a step back for your mental and physical health. After all, you earned that time off! Schedule your PTO strategically so you can focus on recharging your batteries instead of worrying about work. Plan it well in advance so you can prioritize your tasks and due dates so you can actually enjoy your vacation instead of worrying about work.
Use this time to prepare for next year
The holidays are typically the busiest season of the year. Everyone has specific tasks or items they must handle before the New Year; however, instead of getting a head start on new projects, use this time to prepare for next year. Spend some time going through your inbox or files and cleaning up items you no longer need. Then, create folders to organize them all so you can quickly locate them when needed. A little housekeeping is an excellent way to establish work boundaries before the holidays, as you can come back from your time off feeling organized and ready to tackle 2022!
