December has arrived and the holiday season is officially here.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Muharram or Kwanza … while they are all joyful observances, they can be associated with their share of stress.  Not to mention the mounting pressure to get a lot of things done. 

Here are our TOP THREE productivity tips to get you through the holiday season with that ho-ho-ho spirit:

1.        Less is more.

Don’t over commit yourself. 

  • Work: Be selective about the meeting invitations you accept.  We often have more choice than we believe we do.  Also, acknowledging that this is a very busy time of year, being tightly focused on your absolute top priorities is now more important than ever.  (Focusing on your top priorities also means limiting the time you dedicate to other, less critical, tasks.)
  • Socially: Be selective about the social functions you attend – you don’t need to be at everything.  
  • Gift exchanges: Despite the fact that gifts are part of the holiday process – less is still more.  You don’t need to ‘shop till you drop’.  Organize your shopping list, limit your trips to the mall and set a shopping deadline (well ahead of the actual gift exchange date). 

2.       Get Organized and Stay Organized

Operating with a To Do List throughout the year is absolutely critical and the holidays are no exception.  Make sure your To Do list captures 100% of your action items. 

Schedule times to get things done (project wrap-up, holiday cards, etc.).  Don’t assume that you’ll ‘find time’ or ‘squeeze things in’ at this time of year.  Based on personal experience, I can guarantee that this is a sure-fire way to add stress to what is supposed to be a festive months.

3.       Take Time to Truly Enjoy the Holidays

This suggestion is the most critical one.  Embrace your time off.  Spend a good amount of quality time with your family.  Let bygones be bygones (even with those family members who know just how to strike your last holiday nerve.)  Focus on some good ol’ rest & relaxation so you can start 2010 more refreshed, focused and productive. 

With all of these tips, you’ll be sure to turn ‘Bah Humbug’ into ‘Happy Holidays’ in no time.