6 Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance During the Holidays

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The holidays bring a lot of joy but they can also bring a lot of stress when it comes to work-life balance!

When you have to work during the holidays you can find yourself being pulled in many different directions (family events, home responsibilities, work deadlines, work parties, etc). How are you supposed to “do it all” and still enjoy the happiest time of the year?

If you’ve ever struggled with that, here is how to improve your work-life balance during the holidays. 

What does work-life balance mean? 

You have probably heard the term “work-life balance” all over the place but what does it really mean? 

Having a work-life balance means minimizing work-related stress and creating a sustainable way to work while prioritizing your general well-being. The main idea is to have a healthy balance between your work life and your personal life! 

The norm is no longer hustling non-stop. Nowadays, we value taking breaks and setting reasonable boundaries with work. 

The best part about work-life balance is that it is for everyone whether you work in an office, run your own business, or anything in between. Everyone can benefit from having a healthy balance. 

Why a work-life balance is important 

If you are working really hard and find yourself getting burnt out you simply cannot focus on work OR your personal life. Having a healthy mix between work and life is key to happy relationships, overall health, and success at work.

From a work perspective, being worn out means less productivity, an increase of injury in the workplace, and increased mental health issues. In your personal life, you might find yourself too tired to participate in family activities or not focused enough on what is important because you are always thinking about work. 

Like anything in life, having a balance is important, and remember that work and leisure are okay in moderation! 

How to improve your work-life balance during the holidays

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It’s not always possible to 100% avoid work and all your duties. Realistically, not everyone can just take time off from work during the holiday season, and even though there are so many benefits to having a work-life balance the holidays can make that type of balance difficult. 

If you want to improve your work-life balance over the holidays but don’t think it’s possible given your job or your personal life, here are some tips for taking a step in the right direction! 

Prioritize what is important to you 

Over the holidays you might find yourself busier outside of work hours. Normally you may stay late to get things done but during the holidays it’s a good time to prioritize what’s important. 

Is staying at work late more important than attending your child’s Christmas concert at school? Is it more important than making a turkey dinner with family and friends? 

The priorities are up to you but think about events that only happen once a year and determine what matters most to you. 

Create a schedule for work and your personal life 

Sometimes life gets busy and you simply forget what is going on! Create a schedule for your important work events and deadlines so you aren’t worrying about them once you get home. Likewise, make a schedule for your personal to-dos. That way you know where your time and energy need to go both at work and at home.

Change your mindset 

Try to change how you see all the extra stuff you have to do. If you focus on how much work everything is and how many events you have that will drain you and take away too much of your time, your holidays will be horrible. 

Instead, change your mindset to focus on gratitude. Think of all the wonderful things you will do, the smiles you will see from family and friends, the meals you will share, and everything you will be giving back to people you care about. 

Set boundaries 

Make it clear to the people you work with that during the holidays you won’t be checking your email. Don’t be afraid to say no to people if asked to work longer hours. Determine what your boundaries are for the holiday season and then make a serious effort to put them in place. 

If you are self-employed maybe take a week off from your business if you can. If you’re not able to, shorten your hours or let people know it may take a little bit longer to hear from you than usual over the holidays! 

An easy way to set boundaries when at home with your loved ones is to leave your phone in a different room. That way you will only be checking your messages occasionally. If you need to check in with work you can schedule times during the day to do that! 

Postpone things that can wait until after the holidays 

If you have tasks at home or at work that can be postponed, do it. You probably don’t NEED to renovate the garage over the holidays. Of course, it can be difficult to do this at work especially if your boss has certain expectations but do this where possible! 

If you check out this dentist in Melbourne though, they will advise you to not postpone any scheduled medical visits. Holiday or not, checking in with your doctor is crucial for your health.

Work from home if possible 

If you are able to work from home a little bit over the holidays that would help a lot with work-life balance. It takes away from the stressful and time-consuming commute and allows you to be more present at home even if you are still working.

Not everyone will be able to do this but if it’s an option definitely take advantage of it!

In summary 

The holidays are a busy and stressful time often at home and at work. You are pulled in many directions and it can be hard to know how to manage it all. You can quickly become burnt out.

Creating space for yourself to be present with your loved ones and still productive at work is ideal.

Having a work-life balance is essential for your overall health and well-being so make it a priority this season!