Work-cation
We are all busy scrolling the pictures from last year’s Christmas and anticipating to see Uncle Phil getting drunk again. The glitter of the Christmas tree, bag of gifts, mint candies and chocolates is on the mind. It is not a simple task to focus on work before the vacation. Lack of interest and urgency to finish the deliverables before vacation is a common symptom of “Work-cation”. I am no different from anyone and it gets tough to get going while waiting for an exciting holiday period ahead. Yes, working from home does provide the access to the VIP pass of shopping online when the boss is not around.
Over the years I have been trying to find the right blend of things to ensure productivity does not get affected due to “non”work distractions. There is no panacea to achieve this immaculate productivity, but there are a few tips and tricks to achieve close to the same as:
• Work Sprints — I believe being objective to finish the task at hand without anticipating the task ahead which would arise post completion of the current task. Avoid the to-do list paralysis and pick one to execute to completion to accelerate the productivity. For those who are too visionary, it’s time to relax and take it as and when things come by.
• Hide the Holiday Planner — This could be a tough one but would go a long way. Constantly looking at the calendar is fun but also keeps on aggravating the fun and frolic meter. It is humane to look at the calendar if it is accessible so just hide it inside the cupboard or in the garage. For the geeky ones simply turn off the vacation notifications, without any delay.
• Eat and Burn — Eating the right food and exercising regularly helps in boosting the mood and concentration, which are some of the pre-requisites to focus on work. Avoid eating too much greasy food now to savour them more during the vacations. Also, skipping the mandatory workout session could be a cardinal sin. The famous Japanese proverb from Ikigai reinforces that “Eating to only 80% full keeps the doctor away.”
• Distractions — Already having low focused energy for work can be further depleted due to distractions. Thanks to a pandemic for showing us the endless possibilities of remote work and work from home. Everything comes with pros and cons, working from home definitely adds on to the ease of work but staring at how your dog and cat reach a truce might not be the best usage of time before holidays. Scheduled breaks and dedicated work area would help sail through this.
In the end, it is important to meet the deadlines and ensure we finish our work-cation period to enjoy the holiday season at full throttle. Don’t hesitate to try some of the tricks mentioned above and do share what is your mantra to keep going before the holiday season. Looking forward to some interesting ideas.
Work hard, party harder !! :)
