Time Management During the Holidays

For many professionals, managing projects through the holidays is a challenge – keeping clients happy, and keeping production running, while also caring for your team and your family is tough. Here are some tips for managing competing demands:

• Block Away Time: If you have freedom with your schedule, let your bosses, clients and teams what your schedule will be in advance – and if you don’t have as much flexibility, request any leave early. This is important in setting boundaries – and expectations upfront. 
• Map the Month: Take a single page month calendar and start to fill in commitments, so you can see them all in one place. Then, list all the events and people that are not yet scheduled. Could you have a group dinner or party to bring together several people in one setting, rather than having separate events? With this in mind, it’s imperative to block away time and try to gain back a bit of freedom. This is important in setting boundaries – and expectations upfront.

• Identify Pre-Holiday Milestones: Be realistic about project deliveries at the end of the year. What MUST you complete before the end of the year? What could you delay till the new year? Update existing project plans and deliverable lists to describe what will get done, and what will be relooked at the start of next year. 
• Celebrate Success: If you a project or task manager, celebrate the year’s successes by hosting an awards event or team social hour. A project check-in and “year-in-review” can provide some structure to guide the time, while also providing an outlet for people to connect. Follow-up with individuals to thank them personally for their work. Try to navigate schedules and engagements to maximize the events you will most enjoy, and to minimize your stress at the events you prefer less.
• Don’t Dump and Run: Too often, people finish a big project right before leaving for the holidays, push send on the email saying, “please comment by January 2” (after all, that’s next year!) and then check out. Try to give a couple of days buffer between sending a project deliverable and checking out – in case there is a problem, or the recipient has a question. And don’t set unrealistic deadlines for others, even if they seem far away. Instead, note that you will check in after the new year to discuss next steps. If it makes sense, broach deferring a regular get-together while you all cover the bases with people you see less often.

Actively planning your holidays can provide a sense of control that brings some peace. Take the time to take care of yourself – and those you truly love. Control isn’t simply something you need to learn all on your own though. Work with Pryor Learning and find out how such 1-day seminars such as Event Planning or Managing Multiple Priorities, Projects and Deadlines can help you develop soft skills that will help you in and out of a professional setting to manage your life the way you want to live. During the holiday season especially it