Maybe the kids are home from school for a two-week break. Or your relatives are planning their annual visit. And you have a tree to put up, dinners to plan, and presents to buy. But work still calls — and you have a never-ending inbox of emails to prove it.
Entrepreneurs and remote workers know the strain the holidays bring. You want to be part of all the excitement, but you have other responsibilities, too.
If you find yourself sneaking into the garage at midnight to check sales and inventory or taking way too long to pick up your morning Starbucks order because of your social media marketing activities, we can help. So, take a few minutes to consider how to incorporate these work from home strategies during the December holidays.
Maximizing your time: Tips for working from home during the holiday season
Finding a healthy balance between work and home life is important any time of year — but especially so during December and early January. But don’t worry; there are ways to stay on top of your business while still participating in the festivities.
1. Figure out a routine
Your typical workday might follow an nine-to-five schedule. But during the holiday season, those hours may not pan out. Kids, visiting relatives, or a bored partner can all impact your regular schedule, making it nearly impossible to get things done.
Try to schedule your hours around your family’s schedule. Maybe mornings are quiet, and you can use that time to complete some of your most important tasks before pressing pause for the afternoon. If work still calls, you could return to it after dinner when things settle down for the night.
Stick with whatever schedule works best for you. Let your family know that it’s your time for work, and you can’t be disturbed. As you continue to follow it, they’ll settle into the routine.
2. Plan out your tasks
You may not have as much time for work during the holiday season. That makes it critical to make the most of every second. You can do that by planning out your top tasks in advance so you know exactly what you need to do.
Try using a calendar to itemize your work. You can allot each responsibility a specific time limit, so you know exactly when to do it — and have it done by. As you tick off each task, move on to the next one. That may give you a sense of accomplishment as you work through all your responsibilities — and help you avoid missing any critical things you need to take care of.
There are apps that can help you organize your time. Outlook and Gmail both have calendar functionality. If you want something a little more project-oriented, you can try ClickUp, which lets you schedule tasks and check them off as you complete them.
3. Set up a private workspace
It’s hard enough to get things done when your house is full of kids, family, and friends, all jockeying for your attention. But it may be next to impossible if you’re in the middle of it all at the dining room table.
Try cordoning off an area just for your work. If you don’t have a dedicated room for a home office, set up a space in your bedroom, away from the common areas of your house. You might close the door when you’re busy working so everyone knows not to bother you.
Working from home may not be an option with limited space and lots of people around you. If that sounds like your situation, try going somewhere outside the house. Most public libraries offer free Wi-Fi and quiet areas. They’re usually open during the workday but close on Christmas and New Year’s.
Another option is a local coworking center. You may find one nearby that offers a monthly plan for the December holidays. Some are open 24 hours a day for extra convenience.
4. Stick to a cutoff time
There are only so many hours in the day, which rings especially true during the holidays. If you feel overwhelmed by all your business responsibilities, set some boundaries. You might establish a cutoff time when you put work aside. That way, you can avoid missing out on quality holiday moments with the fam.
To hold yourself accountable, try setting an alarm for your designated cutoff time. For example, if you work in the mornings, you might set it for 11 a.m. when you plan to transition to holiday activities. This will prevent you from getting too caught up in your tasks.
5. Plan activities for your kids
Paying attention to work is hard if your kids are racing up and down the hallways, thrilled to be on a break from school. Of course, they’re excited — presents are coming their way, and there’s (probably) no homework to worry about. But their delight can distract you and make it a real challenge to focus on your work responsibilities.
You can keep them busy with a few activities of their own. For example, if there are some unwrapped presents sitting around, they could help wrap them. You could also put them in charge of cleaning up the guest room for visitors.
Try to think of activities your kids will enjoy while also taking some of the workload off you.
6. Let older teens take charge
Teenagers can handle more responsibility than younger, elementary-age kids. If you have a teen in your home, ask them to supervise a holiday activity such as making cookies or decorating the Christmas tree. Their help can give you some free time for work while also giving your younger kids an important (and fun) task.
If you don’t have any teenagers, you might hire a babysitter for a few hours a day. Teen babysitters could probably use the extra cash during the holidays, and you need the help. Try asking neighbors if they know any teens who babysit or use a site like Care.com or Sittercity.com to find someone local.
7. Have a peppermint coffee (or tea)
With everything going on during the December holidays, you may need an energy boost. Coffee is always a solid option for flagging focus, but peppermint-flavored brews take things a step further. Some studies claim that the peppermint aroma improves alertness and cognitive function. That can perk you up if you’re on a tight work schedule.
You can find peppermint-flavored coffees and teas at your favorite cafe or grocery store. Starbucks makes a delicious peppermint mocha, and flavored creamers pop up in the winter months thanks to the popularity of candy canes during the holidays. If coffee and tea aren’t your favorite drinks, try rubbing a few dabs of peppermint essential oil on your skin to increase focus.
8. Keep meetings short
If your business runs around virtual meetings with your staff, try to pare them down a bit during the holidays. What you accomplish via an online meeting might be better handled through email, at least for a few weeks. You won’t need to worry about conflicting schedules that make it challenging to get everyone together for an hour or two a day.
That may not be a solution for every business. If you need to discuss ongoing projects or deadlines, try to schedule meetings in non-busy parts of the day, like the early mornings. That may make connecting easier, so long as you’re in the same time zone. You can also try to shorten them. If your usual meetings last an hour, try going with 30 minutes instead.
9. Be open to saying no
The holiday season often brings a whirlwind of party invites, family events, and other get-togethers. Be mindful of your time and only accept invitations you don’t want to miss. That may mean turning down the local networking event for business owners or a visit from your Great-Aunt Glenda.
By sticking to your time boundaries, you have more energy for the people and things that matter most to you, like close family and your business. You can always catch the next networking event or visit extended family at a less busy time of year.
10. Ask visiting relatives to stay at a hotel
For some people, Christmas and New Year’s become big family and friend reunions. It’s an opportunity to visit people you don’t see that often. But if they all stay at your house, getting time away for work responsibilities can be difficult. That’s also true if you’re the one visiting and need a few hours each day to take care of your business.
Instead of sharing the same living space for several days or a week, consider looking into local hotels or Airbnbs. Your family and friends may appreciate the downtime, which gives everyone some breathing room during the holidays rather than being cooped up together 24/7.
11. Really celebrate the season
The holidays are a special time, and you don’t want work to overtake them. If you can afford to, completely take off Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s. Being entirely disconnected from job responsibilities gives you the chance to appreciate your loved ones.
Chances are, the people you work with will do the same. You probably won’t miss out on many emails or projects concerning your business. And if you do, you can take care of them the next day — with a completely valid excuse!
12. Hire some part-time help
Are there business activities you can outsource for a few weeks? Maybe you need someone to handle customer service inquiries or keep track of your holiday social media posts. Those are easy jobs you can turn over to an independent contractor or marketer without causing too much friction in your business.
You can find short-term help from freelancing sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Or, you might turn to someone you know who could use the extra money. Taking odd-job tasks off your plate can free up your schedule for the more important work only you can handle.
13. Make time for sleep
The average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep. But during the holidays, your sleep schedule may fall by the wayside as you try to fit in work and social gatherings. Lack of sleep can cause some obvious problems, including grogginess and low energy.
To keep your sleep on schedule, try to avoid overly late nights and stick to your regular bedtime routine. That may not be possible on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, but if you stay up late, balance it with a few hours of extra sleep the next morning.
Maintaining your sleep schedule keeps you happy and motivated during the busiest part of the year.
14. Prepare a few meals in advance
If you know you’ll be super busy on a specific day, try preparing that night’s dinner beforehand. For example, you might make and freeze a casserole to slip it into the oven at dinnertime.
Frozen prepared meals can last a while in your freezer, so you might try making a few before the holiday season arrives. That way, you can pull one out if you have a hectic day and don’t have time to cook a big meal.
15. Prep your holiday shopping way ahead of time
Last-minute shopping involves crowds and heavy traffic, cutting your time for work and family. So why not take care of it in November and early December — before the rush sets in? Ask for gift lists early so you can pick up items when you’re out and about.
Early Christmas shopping is a big time-saver. You might also pick up a few set-aside gifts for clients or neighbors you see during the holidays.
Knock this holiday season out of the park
Yes, the December holidays can disrupt your regular work patterns — but a little advance planning can keep those interruptions at bay and allow you to enjoy the festivities. Try our tips to keep family and work humming smoothly along. You can also check out our guide to saving time during the holidays with AI.
