December is such a magical month, with Christmas parties, meeting up with friends and family and having lots of delicious food and drink. However, in a cheese filled haze it can be hard to find ways to stay productive. We have put together some top tips for staying productive in December but still having fun!
1. Set your priorities
December can be super hectic as it approaches the end of the year, we try to put a month’s work into 3 weeks, Work with your team and senior leaders to set priorities for the month to ensure the right tasks are focused on.
2. Reschedule until January – not everything!
Although that would mean an enjoyable December, but the aftermath in January would not be fun. Alongside your priorities list, push any non-urgent work into January.
3. Be vigilant with time
Time has a way of getting away from us and December is even worse, with darker nights and more socialising. Be strict with your timing for tasks and be aware of being pulled into something that is not one of your priorities.
4. Keep your meetings short
This is one all staff will be thankful for! Get through meetings with ease, set a clear agenda to follow, make decisions and define actions.
5. Avoid commuting if you can
The roads are busier in December if you can shave an hour off your day by working from home, that is an extra hour and less stress for you. Even a few hours in the morning to avoid the rush hour can shave precious time off your journey.
6. Batch up tasks
Our brains work better when we do the same tasks repeatedly. If you phone calls scheduled, can you block an hour and do them all at once? Set a time each day to bulk respond to your emails.
7. Do not be afraid to say no
We can all be guilty of over committing ourselves and burning out. If it seems a little much going to another Christmas do, then don’t. Prioritise yourself and the rest will follow.
8. Get some sleep
Going back to basics but going without sleep with affect your cognitive function and lead to you being much less productive. It is recommended that adults have 7+ hours sleep a night, so set a good sleep routine.
9. Avoid distraction, easier said than done.
But if you find yourself at work and scrolling through social media or adding to your Amazon basket this one is for you. Set focus time and unplug from distractions, lock your phone away and close those tabs!
10. Enjoy it!
The festive season brings a lot of joy, it is only once a year, and we all deserve to enjoy it. Be sure to drink plenty of water!
