The holiday season is notorious for being the busiest time of the year, with a flurry of activities, events, and responsibilities demanding our attention. As an organization deeply entrenched in the world of operational efficiency and process improvement, we firmly believe that productivity isn’t about doing all the things, it’s about doing the right things.
This month, we’re sharing some tips to help you master productivity during hectic times like the holiday season. The key? Forget the frills and focus on what truly matters.
1. Outsource and Delegate – One effective strategy for boosting productivity and efficiency this time of year is to identify tasks that can be outsourced or delegated. Consider the following examples:
- Administrative Tasks: Delegate routine administrative tasks such as email management, appointment scheduling, and document preparation to a virtual assistant or staff member. This frees up your schedule for more strategic and high-impact activities.
- Appointment Scheduling: More and more businesses are using virtual receptionists or online scheduling platforms to manage appointments and meetings, cancellations, and reminders, allowing you to focus on providing exceptional service.
- Content Creation: If drafting blogs, social media posts, or articles is part of your strategy, consider outsourcing your content creation to an experienced writer or agency. Maintain a strong online presence without sacrificing your time.
- Holiday Gift Sourcing: Assign the sometimes-daunting task of selecting and distributing corporate gifts to a team member. Provide guidelines, preferences, and budget, and let them handle the logistics. Happy clients and staff members without the stress!
2. Automate – In the age of technology, automation can be a game-changer for improving productivity. This season, consider using automation to take care of routine tasks such as:
- Monthly Bill Paying: Set up automatic payments for your monthly bills – both business-related and personal. This not only ensures timely payments but also saves you from the hassle of manual transactions.
- Digital Task Automation: Explore digital tools and apps that can automate repetitive tasks. From email filters to calendar reminders, leverage technology to streamline your workflow.
- To Do Lists: There are a lot of disparate tasks and ideas floating around in your head during the holiday season – business projects, gift ideas, grocery lists, daily to-dos – the mental clutter is at a high! So, get it out of your head and into a to-do list, digital or on paper, whatever works best for you. The relief you’ll feel from clearing your head and checking off these tasks is invaluable.
3. Wake Up Earlier – Okay, breathe and keep an open mind on this one. For at least the next month through the holidays, wake up early enough to give yourself the important “me” time that you need before the day gets away from you. Even if it’s just enough time to enjoy your coffee, get dressed, and loosely plan out your day, it will supercharge your productivity. Why? Waking up earlier puts you in control of your day from the beginning.
Maybe you feel that waking up even 10 minutes earlier is out of the question because you already struggle to get enough sleep. But no matter what, when you wake up early, enjoy your coffee or tea in peace, and get a few things done before the rest of your household is up, you’ll feel like there are more hours in the day. Almost instantly, you’ll feel as if you’re accomplishing more every day, which makes you feel happier, calmer, and more content.
4. Let It Go – Finally, think about the tasks and to-dos on your list that you really don’t need to do anymore. Are there things that take up your time that really don’t serve any purpose, or are they nice-to-haves vs. must-haves? If so, simply let them go. You’ll likely save yourself a lot of time and unnecessary hassle along the way and you’ll wonder why it took you so long to let it go!
As we navigate the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let’s shift our focus from doing everything to doing the right things. By strategically outsourcing, delegating, embracing automation, and letting go of the unnecessary, we can reclaim precious time and energy for what truly matters. Remember, productivity is not about the quantity of tasks completed, but about the quality and impact of those tasks on our lives. This holiday season, make the choice to be productive in a way that enables you to slow down and enjoy what is most important in your life. As a bonus, you’ll be positioned for an efficient start to the new year.
