Surviving Workplace Stress During the Holiday Madness

The holiday season brings a mix of twinkling lights, classic tunes, and a fair share of stress. While office potlucks can be enjoyable, juggling work deadlines, gift exchanges, and holiday meal preparations can quickly become overwhelming.

Workplace stress during this time is real, but manageable. Whether you're closing Q4 deals or trying to maintain composure amidst endless requests, these strategies are designed to help you navigate and succeed through the holiday hustle.

5 Ways to Navigate Workplace Stress During the Holidays

1. Set Boundaries Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Kind of Does)

"No is a complete sentence." As the holiday season approaches, the workload often increases with end-of-year reports, last-minute events, and random tasks like holiday card mailings.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept every request. It's okay to set boundaries politely and firmly. Here are some examples:

• Unwilling to work late for another budget review? Decline.
• Unable to attend an additional "holiday check-in" meeting? Mention your busy schedule.

Establishing limits helps maintain your well-being. Remember, HR isn't tracking your holiday involvement.

2. Master the Art of Prioritizing Like a Pro

Not all tasks carry the same weight, especially during the holiday rush. A crucial skill is identifying what needs immediate attention and what can wait until 2024. Here's a quick guide:

• Urgent and Important: Address immediately. (Think of your boss’s “do-not-ignore” emails.)
• Important but Not Urgent: Schedule for later.
• Neither Important Nor Urgent: Consider why it exists.
• URGENT but Not Important: Most group emails fall here. Feel free to delete, à la Dwight Schrute.

Feeling overwhelmed? Apps like Trello or Asana can help organize your tasks. Or, stick with trusty Post-it notes—sometimes analog is best.

3. Say Goodbye to Perfectionism

Spoiler alert: There are no rewards for aiming for perfect holiday work. Trying to make every project shine brighter than a decorated Christmas tree can lead to burnout. Done is better than perfect, especially when managing multiple tasks. Give yourself grace. That presentation doesn’t need confetti animations, and that email doesn’t require a Shakespearean introduction. People appreciate getting things done more than perfection. Take it from someone who once stressed over writing thank-you notes for the office cookie exchange—it's not worth losing peace of mind.

4. Tap into the Power of Breaks (AKA Your Sanity-Saving Secret Weapon)

Regular breaks during work are essential for maintaining mental well-being and productivity. Taking breaks does not indicate laziness; it is a necessary aspect of human work patterns. Here are a few effective ways to recharge:

• Watch an episode of Ted Lasso during lunch.
• Take a brief walk, even if it's just to the coffee pot.
• Enjoy a few TikTok videos.

The purpose of breaks is to allow your brain to recalibrate, enhancing focus and productivity. Scientific research supports this approach.

5. Lean on Your Crew—Because Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

When the workload becomes overwhelming, collaboration with coworkers is key. Your colleagues, even the challenging ones, can be valuable allies. Distribute tasks, delegate responsibilities, and work as a team to efficiently manage projects.

If planning the office holiday party feels daunting, adopt a team approach. Assign tasks like food and music arrangements to different team members. This shared responsibility makes the process more manageable.

Remember, sharing a laugh or having a supportive conversation with a trusted colleague can significantly alleviate stress. Sometimes, just knowing someone else feels the same can make a big difference.

Keep Calm and Get Your Holiday Hustle On

The holiday season doesn't have to lead to burnout. By setting boundaries, prioritizing, and working with a supportive team, you can manage the chaos effectively. Remember to enjoy the season—wear an ugly sweater, play your favorite holiday music, and enjoy an extra slice of pie. You deserve it. . 🎄

Now, tackle work stress with confidence. Your holidays and well-being will appreciate it.

Searching jobs on Nomad
The team at Nomad is constantly working on curating the best, most reliable and current job content on around the internet. Which means sometimes you may be redirected to another job board (Careerbuilder or ZipRecruiter for example) and other times you may be redirected to apply directly on the company's site from Nomad.  This approach allows us to bring the most content to you in one place, but if you see something amiss or are looking for additional content we don't have yet, we want to know. You can contact us any time here.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk