So often you hear the holidays referred to as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” So why do they seem to hard to maneuver. Hopefully this checklist can make it more enjoyable.
1. Show your gratitude. You are likely not the only person trying to make it through the holidays. By showing your gratitude it will likely not only make others around you feel better, but being grateful increases your happiness and motivation.
2. Make sure to get enough rest. It’s a stressful time of year filled with later than usual nights of personal and professional obligations. If you can get close to seven hours of sleep, your energy and immunity are likely to stay high.
3. Be realistic and remember no one has a perfect holiday season. Those idealized versions for the movies are just that, pretend!
4. Figure out your time off in advance. Give yourself enough time to manage your workload and actually enjoy the time off.
5. Minimize the gift giving. Not everyone wants to exchange gifts and sometimes it leaves employees concerned about gifting back to the boss (which should not be expected.)
6. Avoid setting out bowls of candy. Not only is it harmful to the waistline, but could get your office sick with unwrapped candy. Wipe down your office with disinfectant wipes on a regular basis, and wash hands thoroughly multiple times during the day to keep germs away.
7. December is known to have less sunshine and be colder. Keep your energy high by getting extra steps in during the work day. Skip the elevator and use the stairs, park further away from the office, and bundle up and go for a walk outside each day before eating lunch.
8. And yes, you must go to the work party. Show up with a smile, allow yourself a brief thank you before leaving. This is a grin and bear it event for some!
