How to be Productive This Holiday Season

I think it is fair to say that we have officially entered the busiest time of the year. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to get caught up in the holiday whirlwind. Why be busy when you can be productive instead?

Ever since I was a kid I was accident prone because I was always rushing and doing too many things at once. As a matter of fact, my nickname as a kid was “spiller” because I would spill everything. I remember one particular incident when I was maybe 8 or 9. I was hanging out with one of the neighborhood kids having pizza down the street from my house. Instead of eating my pizza and then riding my bike home, I decided why not do two things at once. So, I rode my bike home while eating my pizza even though my neighbor’s dad told me otherwise. Of course, I flipped over my bike and the evidence of pizza was all over me. Although, when I look back on that moment it makes me laugh, I have had to untangle my busy mind ever since. 
​
Once I acknowledged my busy ways, I implemented three steps in my life to instead be productive. Just like anything, this change in perspective requires patience and practice. But, I can’t think of a better time to try it, than during the busiest time of the year. So, go ahead and apply these three easy changes to make your holiday season more enjoyable.

1. Keep your goals in mind: What are your goals? Organize them in your mind in order of importance and accomplish tasks that will get you closer to reaching them. Anything else is just clutter.
2. Simplify: Instead of writing long to-do lists that leave you feeling overwhelmed, write out only three important tasks that you can accomplish each day. Single task along the way to stay focused instead of getting distracted and flustered by multi-tasking.
3. Strategize when to say “yes”: I used to say “yes” immediately to every opportunity thrown my way. Now, I take my time to think about whether it works with my schedule, if I will have enough energy, and if it is of value. Once I filter through my options I decide either “yes” or “no.” As long as you set boundaries for yourself, you won’t end up feeling guilty.