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The Most Effective Ways to Survive Busy Season

The Most Effective Way to Survive Busy Season

The Most Effective Way to Survive Busy Season // Photography by: Katie Niemic

The 5 Most Effective Way to Survive Busy Season. How to Survive The Busy Season.

SHOP THE OUTFIT: Coatigan | Cashmere Turtleneck | Levi’s Ribcage Jeans | Sock Booties | Monogram Necklace
SHOP THE OUTFIT: Denim Jacket | Striped Tee | Vintage Round Sunglasses | Corduroy Pants | Slingback Flats

The Most Effective Ways to Survive Busy Season

Busy Time

Either it is the holiday season or there’s a certain time of year where work peaks it means it will be crazy. Typically for me, it is the holiday season where I am the most busy. The calendar will easily be booked up with events (although thankfully this has lessened due to COVID), gatherings, fitting in family traditions, and somehow trying to prep for those too.

And then it is 4th quarter at work. At my previous job, the work life means long hours during the last quarter of the year because they want to finish the year strong. Things that didn’t happen during the year, somehow work wants it accomplished in these last few months, sales goals to meet, trying to prep for the next year, and the list goes on. Thankfully those days are over for me at my new job, but I know like my husband it’s just chaos haha.

How to Survive Busy Season

Just typing all of this out is giving me anxiety and making me feel stressed. Ugh! But there is a light. There is a way to survive busy season. First, let’s take a deep breath and I’ll share with you all the ways I survive this madness.

How to survive end of year rushTips for Busy Season at work

Photography by: Katie Niemic

SHOP THE OUTFIT: Coatigan | Cashmere Turtleneck | Levi’s Ribcage Jeans | Sock Booties | Monogram Necklace
SHOP THE OUTFIT: Denim Jacket | Striped Tee | Vintage Round Sunglasses | Corduroy Pants | Slingback Flats

Make A List

Time to take out the calendar. First, make a list of everything you know has to be done. Seriously, name it all! This will give you an idea what really is going to happen. Sometimes we all need to visually see what is happening before we can find a solution. I think the term is called brain dump? Don’t quote me on it but just visually seeing everything that’s stirring in my head already takes off some of the weight and pressure.

List everything from buying holiday gifts, wrapping them, gatherings, any prepping for the gatherings, and work schedule. Once you list it, put it on the calendar. Don’t worry about how many things are going on each day, just put it on it.

Be Realistic

Now that it is on a calendar, you will have to prioritize. Be realistic. Ask yourself, do you really need to go to this event? Is this work task really beneficial for the company? Can it be rescheduled for a later time? For instance, my cousins and I would do a ‘cousins Christmas party’ since we can’t see each other on Christmas day anymore (we all are grown up and have our own families). Realistically, we can’t do it around the holidays. So we postponed it until January. And it worked out perfect because 1) there is nothing to in January 2) there is now something to look forward to!

The 5 Most Effective Way to Survive Busy Season. How to Survive The Busy Season.

Manage Expectations

Just because you are told that a work deadline is end of day, you have to think if it is actually do-able to complete by end of day.  That makes a big difference. If you already know it will be difficult to complete something by end of day, let that be known right away. Let me tell you, most deadlines (when it comes to work) are negotiable.

However, I know some deadlines are not negotiable. For instance, I have friends who are public accountants and when it comes to tax season, there’s no way to work around that. It’s a hard deadline and tax returns have to be completed by April 15. So they communicate ahead of time that they will be busy and reschedule or decline. Any bandwidth they have, they dedicate it to their family and for themselves.

Say No

This goes with prioritizing, but yes say no! For instance, think about if it is necessary for you to attend this friend’s holiday gathering. Are you close enough that yes it would be nice to go. Or do you think you will even be missed? For me, I’ve decided to only agree to go to close family & friends.

Or how about work. I know this time of year is crazy and extra hours are needed. However, maybe consider how many is too many hours? For example, is it really necessary to agree to work on a project and lose your weekend spending time with your family doing family traditions? Was it worth it? Will you really get promoted? Maybe it is just me and I have a different mindset since cancer, but I value time because time cannot be taken back. I’ve said no already to partnerships because I knew it would take away from me enjoying the holidays and being present.

Ask For Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! As long as it’s available, ask for it. And try to make it fun while you are doing the task. If you are hosting, split up the task or don’t make everything.

If it is work related and the work hours are not sustainable, check with team members and ask if they have bandwidth. Even if it is a simple 30 minute task that you can allocate, that’s 30 minutes saved for you.

Take A Break

Even if you’re overwhelmed, you need to take breaks throughout the day. This is crucial when you want to survive busy season. Otherwise, you will be burnt out and all the long works hours will not be as effective and quality of work is diminished. What I do is actually schedule time when I take a break. Sometimes I only take a 10-minute break or a 30-minute break. No matter what the duration is, a break is needed to feel refreshed and clear my head.

The 5 Most Effective Way to Survive Busy Season. How to Survive The Busy Season.

Act Ahead of Time

Is there stuff that you can do ahead of time? I love to wrap presents but they are so daunting when they have to get done all at once. So my husband and I wrap presents as we get them. Wrapping 2 or 3 a night before bed is so much easier to do than doing it all the week of Christmas.

Every other Thanksgiving, I host Thanksgiving with my family. I plan out my meals and I think about which dishes I can make each day (and can keep of course). So on Thanksgiving morning, there’s very few things I need to manage.

I hope these tips on how to survive busy season will help you. Remember, you have to take care of you.

xo RD

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