It’s that time of year again – the season of twinkling lights, festive cheer, and… 

when I feel my shoulders start creeping up to my ears as my to-do list grows ever longer.

Is it just me, or does the happiest time of year also double as the bizziest? 

Your work is still there and may even be more intense than ever. Can you say end of year processes and practices, PLUS teeing up the New Year so you can get off to a great start? PLUS you probably have a TON to be DONE in relation to the holidays. You may have family or friends coming in to stay with you or you may be traveling to them, you’ve got gifts to buy, and food to prepare. 

Suffice it to say, you miiiight be suffering from a smidge of overwhelm-itus. If so, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. 

And here’s a little truth bomb: trying to separate your personal and professional lives right now? Yeah, good luck with that.

You’ve probably heard me say it before, but work-life balance is right up there with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but I haven’t seen any hard evidence yet.

Instead, I focus on work-life integration. Life isn’t a series of neat little boxes; it’s more like one big messy ball of yarn. Accept it, embrace it, and you might just find some peace in the chaos.

So here are some tips that I’ve found to be helpful in navigating – and dare I say actually enjoying the holiday season. Oh, and BTW, these tips can apply any time that you feel your shoulders creeping up to your ears. 

Brain Dump

Get it all out – work stuff, holiday stuff, personal stuff. Write down every little thing swimming around in your head. There’s something about seeing it on paper that helps you stop feeling like your brain’s about to short-circuit.

1. Ask yourself the BIG questions:

• Does it HAVE to be done by ME?
• Does it HAVE to be done NOW?
• Does it HAVE to be done in a certain WAY?
• Does it HAVE to be done AT ALL?

You’d be amazed how many things don’t pass this test.

2. Prioritize. Of the things that need to be done by you, (and are you certain that they really HAVE to be done by you?) think about what is truly THE most important thing that you need to do right now. Do it. Lather, rinse, repeat.

3. Embrace modern magic. Store-bought cookies? Totally fine. Curbside pickup? A lifesaver. Meal delivery services? Chef’s kiss. Work smarter, not harder.

4. Delegate, delegate, delegate… If this is tough for you, listen closely. Accept that: 

a.) You can’t do it all, and 

b.) Someone may actually be able to do it better than you. Gasp! 

Match tasks with people who can help, give clear instructions, and then – this is the hard part – let go. Monitor, follow up, and give feedback. Boom! That’s my delegating workshop encapsulated in a couple of sentences, but it’s really not as difficult as you’re making it out to be.

5. Be flexible. I used to have a sticky note on my desk that read “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” The pandemic sure gave new meaning to not holding on to plans and traditions too tightly.

6. Rethink traditions. Ask yourself if you really have to do them all, every year? True story: one year, we thought it’d be so fun to start a tradition of cutting down our own Christmas tree. “Start a tradition of driving two hours to a tree farm and cutting down your own Christmas tree”, they said. “It’ll be a lifelong memory for the kids,” they said. So, off we went to cut down said Christmas tree. Well, it was all fun and games until the baby got stung by a bee. Did I mention that we were out in the boonies? Some kind strangers gave us ice to put on his sting and we loaded their butts in the car never to attempt cutting down our Christmas tree again. Oh, I know some people love that tradition. And to them I say, “Rock on with yo bad self.” That’s one tradition I crossed off my list forever.

7. Breathe. Sometimes we forget to do this, but it’s hugely important. Reframe how you’re thinking about the situation and remember that when your brain perceives something as a problem, it actually releases hormones that cause you MORE stress. “This is not a problem, it’s an opportunity.” Keep repeating that as you practice deep breathing exercises and apply the previous five techniques.

“We teach best what we most need to learn.” There’s a good bit of wisdom in that quote. Lest you think that I’ve mastered overwhelm-itus, I confess that I still have to deal with it from time to time. 

I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season, filled with joy and peace.