Every December, professionals across industries find themselves crawling, bloodied and bruised, towards an arbitrary finish line: the office closure at Christmas.
The end-of-year rush has become so ingrained in our culture that it’s almost a ritual, one where we push ourselves to hit targets, wrap up projects, and somehow leave everything ‘done’ before we shut our laptops on December 24th.
Instead of wrapping up strong, many of us limp to the finish line, delivering work that’s less than our best. So, the question we should all be asking is: does it really have to be this way?
If every year feels like the same mad dash, it’s time for a reset.
Here are five ways that you can begin to reclaim your time and energy, and ensure you finish the year with clarity and purpose (instead of feeling burnt out at the stake).
I don’t know who needs to hear this (I’m also talking to myself here!), but not everything on your to-do list needs to be done by Christmas. Instead, focus solely on tasks that genuinely move the needle for your business or career.
Whether it’s nurturing key client relationships, laying the groundwork for a new initiative, or refining strategies for the year ahead, identify what will have a meaningful impact and let the rest wait.
For example, instead of rushing to launch a brand-new project, use this time to schedule its stages. Research, development, and feedback can all be planned for January, ensuring the work is done thoughtfully rather than hastily.
December comes with its own brand of chaos: endless meetings, holiday events, and last-minute requests. To avoid being pulled in every direction, create a ‘no’ list alongside your priority list. These are the tasks and events you’ll either delegate, delay, or drop entirely.
Pre-deciding your limits—such as only attending one holiday event per week, setting a budget, or refusing new project requests—can help reduce decision fatigue and protect your focus.
Not every deadline is set in stone. If someone says, ‘Let’s get this done before Christmas’, don’t automatically accept it as non-negotiable. Often, what people really want is reassurance that a project is in motion or that there’s a clear plan for progress.
Ask the right questions: does this truly need to be completed now, or is it enough to have a framework and timeline in place? You’d be surprised how often the answer is the latter.
December comes with delays, distractions, and unexpected demands—things like gift shopping, school concerts, client Christmas parties, suppliers going on leave early, and the odd relative dropping in. Add in holiday traffic and stressed-out family members, and you have a recipe for drained energy in both your work and personal life.
Allow room for these hiccups by keeping your schedule lighter than usual. A smaller to-do list with extra breathing space can help you handle the season’s surprises without losing your cool.
Instead of collapsing into the holiday break, consider taking a short, restorative pause before Christmas. Before the chaos peaks, a few days off in early December can provide the mental clarity and energy you need to tackle the rest of the month with purpose.
Imagine heading into the holidays not as a frazzled shell of yourself but as someone who’s already recharged and ready to make the most of their time off. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Ultimately, the end-of-year hustle is a habit, but it’s one we can break.
Remember: the finish line isn’t Christmas. The finish line is delivering great work—and sometimes, that means pacing yourself. Downing tools to eat a few mince pies won’t hurt, either.
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Phoebe is the founder of Pure Public Relations, a PR firm for SMEs and not-for-profits.
