How to Concentrate At Work This Holiday Season

The holidays are rolling in full force, which means you’re probably less present at work than usual. Between upcoming time off and trying to find time for gift shopping, focusing on work can seem as distant as the North Star.

We become distracted after 3-5 minutes of focused work. It just gets harder with the promise of the holidays around the corner. With these simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to increase productivity at work, making your holiday season more stress-free.

Read on to learn how to concentrate at work pre-holidays!

1. Decorate the Office

Picture this: You’re drowning in paperwork to get done before the holidays, and you just want to take a nap. Despite being a week away, Christmas couldn’t seem farther. Your positive attitude wanes with each passing minute.

With a little festive cheer in the office, it helps remind you why you’re working so hard leading up to the holiday. You can take a look at Santa’s cheery, red cheeks when you’re ready to throw in the towel and think, “One more week!” Festive decorations can rejuvenate you and help you make it to the finish line.

Another way to make it fun? Schedule your meetings at festive locations instead of in the conference room to lighten things up a little.

2. Get Organized

Making a list and checking it twice? You should have that in common with Saint Nick when it comes time for the holiday season. You won’t have to ask yourself how to concentrate because everything you need to do will be right there in front of you.

Keeping multiple checklists will help you stay on top of everything you’ve got going on and avoid procrastination. This can include:

• Work projects to be completed before the holidays
• Gift lists for family and friends
• Things to do around the house before family comes to stay
• Food and dessert prep for the big meal, including grocery lists

Extracting all the to-do’s swirling around in your head and getting them onto paper can help you make nothing gets left behind. It’ll ease your mind, increase your focus, and keep you moving forward, one check at a time.

3. Use Your Lunch Hour

We’re all short on time during the holidays, so make the most of your lunch hour. Bring a sandwich and work straight through to get ahead on work projects. You’ll be thanking yourself later when you’re ahead of the game.

Take the hour to get ahead on writing holiday cards, or do some shopping. It’s easier than ever to shop online these days. Turning your lunch hour into your “extra hour” in December is a great idea to help get stuff done.

4. Get Ahead and Stay Ahead

Although your work projects might really have deadlines toward the end of the month, setting your own can help you get ahead. Try to finish everything at least a week before it’s due. That way, you’ll allow yourself the mental clarity needed to really focus when you’re ready to close up shop for the holidays.

Try to avoid scheduling any important meetings for the end of the month as well. Do what you can to make it a light late-December by hustling harder earlier in the month.

Still Unsure How to Concentrate?

It’s certainly harder to focus on work around the holidays, but concentration difficulties can be a sign that your health isn’t up to par.

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating right to maximize your brain power.

You’re going to need it to get through this holiday season!