It’s the end of the year and the pressure is on, demands are high, and you’re probably close to the end of your rope as you try to wrap up your remaining projects before the holidays start. If that’s you, you’re not alone. Holiday stress is very common: In a survey by LifeStance Health, 57 percent of respondents said they experience stress over the season.
But it’s possible to maintain your energy and momentum and not only get things done but stay engaged and finish strong. Fortunately, there are a few pragmatic strategies to maintain your energy and momentum through the end of the year.
1. Maintain control
You’re likely to start feeling out of control. This is because of all the work you must accomplish before the end of the year, all the events you must attend, and all the responsibilities to families and friends for the holidays.
Feeling like your work-life balance is out of control can sap your energy and create a barrier to getting things done. This can turn into a vicious circle. You’re out of control, can’t get things done, and then feel even more out of control, and the cycle continues. On the other hand, when you feel greater levels of choice and control, you’re better able to stay clearheaded, get more accomplished, and feel more satisfied as a result.
So how can you feel more in control? First, decide what you must do this year and put off the things that don’t need your attention until after the holidays. Be intentional to get things done that will relieve your mind and keep responsibilities from hanging over your head. At the same time, plan for what can be done later on.
Additional tactics to take control are deceptively simple. Make lists of what you need to accomplish. Keep a calendar handy so you know what’s coming up. When you accomplish things, check them off your list so you feel a sense of completion and progress, or mark the calendar counting the days you’ve tackled.
With all of these, take the approach that works best for you. For some people, it’s an analog and always-visible to-do list. For others it’s an app or the use of your system’s calendar or planning software. Don’t spend a lot of time deciding which to use, just leverage what you’re accustomed to and dig in to take control and maintain your momentum for the year.
Fast Company
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