‘Tis the season to be organised and here is how you can prepare to be away from your work this festive period.
For many people all over the globe Christmas can be busy and chaotic, but it is also an opportunity to down tools and step away from work, so you can recharge ahead of a new year. But that takes some preparation to ensure that when you come back after a few days, it doesn’t take extra time to get back into the swing of things.
So, ahead of Christmas and the New Year, how can you best prepare to not be there?
Make your list and check it twice
Just as it is for the jolly red man himself, lists are your friends when you are trying to wrap up your work ahead of Christmas. Start by making note of everything you need to finish, including deadlines and any resources you may need. It can also help to categorise list items into sections such as work, admin, correspondence etc, so you have a clear idea of what takes precedence and what can wait. Tick each item off as you go along and enjoy the satisfaction of inching closer to your much deserved break, knowing you have things under control.
It is a time to share
If you want to come back to work after the break and pick up exactly where you left off, it is important that prior to leaving you communicate clearly with your co-workers. If you are working on a joint project or task for example, make sure that all parties are aware of the work to be done, who is responsible, the deadline and the status of the task leading into the break. If you have booked less or additional time off, communicate your schedule with relevant groups and ensure that the timelines you have set yourself and others are realistic and feasible for everyone.
Look outside the snow globe
On the topic of communication, it isn’t only internal peers and colleagues you need to keep abreast of your plans, many people have roles that require external communication and updates. If you have clients, consumers or dispersed co-workers, make sure to send an email explaining your schedule. Finish up any work that needs to be completed this side of the year and if projects are moving into 2026, give a status update and a brief outline of the strategy for the first few weeks ahead, so everyone is on the same page. Your work is likely an aspect of someone else’s to-do list in some capacity, so make sure to communicate necessary information in advance of taking a break.
Happy New Year
There is always a sense of finality to the end of a year as you start to look ahead and plan the next 12 months of your career. It can feel like a clean slate of sorts, but it is important that you don’t have both eyes solely on the future. Make sure to take stock of the year you have just had and analyse everything, from the wins and successes, as well as the moments that didn’t quite pan out.
It can be helpful to arrange for an end-of-year review with your employer, so you can discuss anything important that happened, as well as to set your expectations for the coming months. Getting off on the right track is important, but you can’t start that journey until you have a clear understanding of both your achievements and those moments where mistakes were made. Knowledge is power and this is how you learn.
Clean up the workshop
One of the best ways to begin organising yourself, not just in a work capacity, but with anything in your life that needs a touch of organisation, is to clean up both the online and physical spaces you use. This can be achieved by decluttering your email, deleting unnecessary files and folders, purging your devices of any unused or outdated apps, essentially, anything digital that no longer serves a purpose can go.
Then turn your attention to the physical space. Take a duster and a jaycloth to every surface, declutter, maybe give it a sweep, empty bins and when you get back to your desk after the break, you can just jump right in.
Best of luck and enjoy the break, however you may choose to spend it.
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