5 work–life balance tips this holiday season

The holiday season should be something to look forward to, but for many of us, it’s also the busiest, most chaotic time of the year. Between wrapping up end-of-year projects at work, juggling family commitments, and navigating travel plans, it’s easy to end December feeling more drained than delighted.

If you’re determined to protect your sanity and your holiday spirit this year, a little planning can make all the difference. Here are five practical work-life balance tips to help you get through the season feeling calmer and more present.

Communicate your time off clearly 

Boundaries are your best friend during the holidays. Decide in advance when you’ll be working, when you’ll be offline, and when you need uninterrupted time for yourself or your family.

Don’t forget to:

• Let your team know your availability - and ask for theirs
• Block it out in your calendar - an extra warning always helps
• Put an out-of-office message on - you could even set it slightly early to prevent last-minute rushes.

When everyone knows each other’s availability you have a better chance of avoiding any unwelcome surprises! 

Prioritize ruthlessly 

December has a magical way of making every task feel urgent. But unless you’re in the business of saving lives, not everything actually is urgent. 

Before the holiday rush hits, take 10 minutes to identify:

• What must get done
• What would be nice to complete
• What can wait until January

Then give yourself permission to push the ‘non-urgent’ items to the new year. You’ll be grateful when you’re not scrambling to finish every stray task before logging off for the holidays.

Don’t overcommit 

Remember, you can’t do it all. Saying ‘no’ occasionally isn’t about being unhelpful, it’s about protecting your capacity and managing expectations so that you don’t have to let anyone down at the last minute. 

This goes for office parties, networking events and social catch ups too - It all adds up quickly. Choose the activities that bring you joy and politely decline the rest. Your mental health, and your schedule, will instantly feel lighter.

Establish a hard stop 

If you’re likely to be working remotely at all in the run up to, or over the holidays, it’s important not to blur the boundaries between work and down-time. 

Pick a finish time, announce it, then stick to it. That way you avoid dipping in and out of tasks or sending ‘one last reply.’ 

Switch off notifications after hours

Slack, Teams, and email will happily run your life if you let them. But remember, you are not a 24/7 emergency hotline, you’re a human being who deserves a break!

During the holidays, turn off notifications outside work hours - and remember to do this across all your devices. 

If that’s just not possible, set yourself a designated time to check email once or twice a day so you still have a mental break from working.

A more balanced holiday starts with small changes

Hopefully, adopting some of these tips helps you feel calmer, more present, and more in control as the year winds down.

Make a conscious effort to rest, simplify, and enjoy the moments that matter most. After all, the holidays aren’t meant to be survived, they’re meant to be enjoyed.