How to Avoid Holiday Burnout at Work

burnout

Everybody hate that term called holiday burnout. Yes, there are occasions when it may become emotionally taxing, and you risk suffering from holiday fatigue.

Holidays are a time for fun, but they may also result in tiredness, hopelessness, worry, or a host of other situations, making them more stressful than joyful.

There may be a connection between some instances of holiday burnout and depressive episodes, which can peak around the holidays.

If you commit all your time and effort to establish relationships, creating memories, and maintaining family customs, you might not be attending to your own needs. By ignoring your needs, you put yourself in danger of burnout.

Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy yourself during holiday events without becoming worn out at the end of them.

1. Ensure That You Receive Enough Rest

Even if you are physically exhausted at work, you shouldn’t be.

Being physically exhausted can have several detrimental impacts, including impatience, lack of focus, memory loss, lower cognitive capacity, a loss of motivation, and a general decline in job satisfaction and happiness.

In addition, you won’t be able to constantly have high levels of energy throughout the year unless your fundamental health and welfare are taken care of, which essentially involves getting adequate sleep every night.

2. Sort Your Lists by Priority

Avoid being overly concerned about all you have to get done in 2021. Instead, make a prioritized list of the tasks you must complete as soon as possible to have time for your holiday vacation.

3. If Your Workload Becomes Too Overwhelming Delegate

One of the most critical leadership abilities is knowing when and how to assign assignments to your coworkers or team members.

However, it is unnecessary to carry out every task oneself to be a successful leader or professional; doing so soon comes off as micromanaging, which is a very ineffective and poisonous way to operate.

4. Prevent Overbooking Meetings

Schedule meaningless meetings that can be done by email between now and the end of the year.

Meetings that aren’t required are a significant time waster, and attempting to fit in a while still trying to get your job done may make you stressed and exhausted.

5. Start Your Trip Early Enough

When your holiday break is in sight, it can be tempting to go into vacation mode and psychologically “check out” of work.

However, avoid letting the approaching holidays divert your attention from your end-of-year obligations.

Instead, stay present and concentrated at work, and avoid thinking about your approaching break too much.

6. Play and Work Less

While taking advantage of all the chances the holidays or vacation have for socializing, both at the office and in your personal life, you may still finish up your last duties for the year.

The more satisfying relationships and interactions you have with other people and excellent networking opportunities, the less likely you are to feel overwhelmed or burned out about your end-of-year task.

7. De-Clutter Your Space

Eleven months’ worth of clutter at your workspace or office might be mentally draining since it serves as a concrete reminder of the year you’ve experienced.

As you prepare for a break and start the new year with an ordered workstation, arranging your working life may be therapeutic and valuable.

8. Accept Opportunities That Genuinely Make You Joyful

With the extravagant decorations, continuous Christmas music, and gifts you don’t need or want to buy, “joy” might seem staged this time of year.

And there is a lot of pressure on us to uphold the festive mood. Learn to say no if you want to have a season that will make you genuinely happy. You are only required to attend some events.

You shouldn’t subject yourself to financial strain. There’s no reason for you to give in to the pressure.

9. Make It a Group Activity

As your workload increases at year-end, it’s simple to become frustrated. Join forces with coworkers to complete your to-do list rather than turning inward. Increase team cooperation to complete projects.

Establish a network of volunteers who can step in to support one another at work by identifying those who need assistance.

Every success serves as fuel for the next, giving everyone something to be thankful for.

10. Attend the Office Holiday Party or Don’t

Depending on your workplace culture, you may decide to cancel your Christmas party. If you are missed, you’ll know it best (and if that is, your absence will count against you down the road).

But before you dismiss it, think about the benefits of socializing and having fun with your coworkers in a more relaxed environment. The decision to participate in these kinds of workplace activities should be up to each individual.

However, community and friendships are significant because they may determine whether someone loves or hates their job. If you dislike small chat, here are some topics to bring up: Consider what you could share, and then ask others,

11. Locate the Ballast

What maintains your equilibrium and self-confidence? Taking in music? Reading? Is dancing physical activity? People get-go of the things that fuel them and give them stamina amid the social maelstrom of this time of year.

Keep hold of them instead, now more than ever. Recognize what those things mean to you and reestablish contact with them. Finding methods to fit them in is crucial, even if you can only accomplish them partially as you would like.

Think about working from Christmas through New Year’s. The office will indeed be deserted. More time for you to finish 2022 without distractions and prepare for a successful 2023.

It’s convenient to have that line of demarcation between one year’s conclusion and the next. You begin the new year prepared and fresh.

Conclusion

Avoid making the holidays a source of anxiety. Instead, try to avoid the melancholy and stress the Christmas season may bring.

Learn to identify your holiday triggers, such as stress about money or obligations from others, so you can deal with them before they cause a meltdown.

You may discover happiness and calm throughout the holidays with some preparation and optimistic thought.

Author: Charles R. Davenport, Psy. D.

Dr. Charles R. Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who provides counseling and therapy to individuals of all ages dealing with career stress (https://davenportpsychology.com/tag/career-stress/), depression, anxiety, communication, and relationship problems. His therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic and interpersonal theories to help patients find change and relief.

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