Holiday Time Management
When it comes to holiday time management, working moms who homeschool need to have a firm grasp of time management skills in order for time off to feel relaxing.
Juggling the demands of work and home life can be a challenge, but adding in the extra responsibilities of holiday shopping, events, and family time can quickly become overwhelming.
Fortunately, with some time management for busy moms paired with thoughtful planning and prioritization of tasks, working moms who homeschool can make the most of the season and still find time to relax and enjoy the holidays.
Let’s be honest; without good holiday time management skills, you’ll end up looking at your calendar wondering if it is possible to cram 5 days of work into 3 and still function at the end of the week. (The answer is no.)
In this article, we’ll discuss the 4 reasons why time management is essential for working moms who homeschool during the holiday season.
Why You Need Holiday Time Management
As a working mom, you might wonder why holiday time management is important. Don’t you have enough on your plate?
The truth is, if you want to avoid the crash and burn associated with the holiday, you need to learn how to manage your time.
In fact, I’ve discovered 4 reasons why holiday time management is important.
Let’s break it down.
1. Your Work Hours Increase
During the holiday season, work doesn’t stop. In fact, all the deadlines still need to be met, and the pressure increases, often calling for longer and busier days.
When you combine that with people taking time off, your boss or clients expecting you to pick up the slack, and it being 100 times harder to schedule meetings, it is easy to see why you might dread the holiday season.
It can be a difficult and frustrating balancing act, but preparing and planning can make a huge difference.
The week or so before the holidays hit, take some time to talk with your boss or clients about their expectations.
- Find out who is taking time off and who will be covering their workload.
- Try to schedule meetings in advance.
- Sort through your tasks or workload and choose your priorities. What needs to be done now, and what can be pushed aside?
- Learn to say no to new tasks.
If you run your own business as I do, schedule some time with yourself to look over the upcoming holiday weeks.
Lastly, plan ahead if possible. I highly recommend monthly planning because it lets you see what projects are coming up and if any holidays are in the plan or appointments that might impact your work week.
It’s easier to prepare ahead than to find yourself scrambling later.
2. Family Obligations Increase
During the holiday season (and even other breaks!), the sheer amount of family, career, and homeschooling events you are expected to attend can knock your socks off!
Don’t forget the pressure to see and visit with every single relative, long-lost friend, and childhood classmate you haven’t seen since high school… and keeping it all sorted becomes a full-time job.
This is why you need holiday time management; otherwise, you’ll find yourself drowning in family obligations with no way out.
I don’t know about you, but I only have so many days off, and I want to enjoy them, not run around stressed out!
You can protect your time and your energy and still be nice.
Being flexible is key, but the only way you can be flexible is if you have a good handle on your time.
Find a way to balance family obligations during the holidays by intentionally sticking to a few events you really want to do with family, saying no, and remembering that the holidays are supposed to be fun and not a burden.
3. Everything Takes Twice As Long
During the holiday season, stores are packed, crowds increase, and you can count on long lines at the checkout, gas station, post office, and anywhere else you need to go.
Think again about running into the store to pick up milk for your kiddo’s breakfast!
At this point, you have two choices: get upset about the lines or use holiday time management tips to help you make the most of your time.
I have found getting upset does nothing. Instead, I use the wait time to get things done.
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For example, if you are waiting in line at the gas station, you can use this time to:
- Catch up on Voxer messages
- Listen to a podcast
- Or if the kids are with you, listen to an audiobook
Just make sure whatever you are doing is safe. Don’t text while driving!
4. Stress Levels Increase
Unfortunately, all of the above might have you feeling stressed beyond belief during the holiday season.
The American Psychological Association found that 38% of people say their stress increases during the holidays — only 8% of people say they feel happier.
Try to take some time to figure out exactly what is causing the stress. Is it trying to cram in all the things? Is it the amount of money you are spending? Is it the gatherings and peopleing?
To combat this type of stress, dig out your planner, figure out exactly what you want from this holiday, and make a plan to make it happen.
Holiday time management can help make your holiday season peaceful, purposeful, and rejuvenating.
The Good Thing About Most Holidays
Unlike vacations that your husband decides last minute and result in chaos, most holidays happen at the same time every year, which means you can plan for them.
Being a busy mom during the holidays can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to balance family and work obligations.
However, holiday time management can be a key factor in helping you stay organized during this busy season.
Being organized removes stress because you will have a clear idea of what needs to be done and when, so take some time before the holiday season to create a schedule for yourself and your family.
By organizing your days in a way that makes sense for you and prioritizing the things that are important each day, you can ensure that everything gets done in a timely manner.
Help For The Holidays
Making sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to complete tasks can help minimize the stress that comes with the holidays.
How has holiday time management helped you reduce stress and enjoy the break?
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Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!
