The holidays are just around the corner, and it’s all beginning to get fun and festive everywhere, which is nice until you realize that you still have loads of work to do before going on full vacation mode. 

Some people have a strong will to resist the distractions and focus on the remaining tasks, but some people tend to give in to the vibe of the season, losing productivity in the process.

Data from a global project management software firm showed that work productivity starts to dip in December before reaching its lowest point in January.

In Australia specifically, December and January happen to be the months when people drink the most alcohol during the whole year, according to a study by a popular delivery solutions provider. 

And if you happen to be one of those people who make early preparations for Christmas, there’s a big chance that you are multitasking between work and holiday chores even while in the office.

While we can take it easy on work during this season, all the unfinished tasks can sometimes come to haunt us during the actual holidays – something nobody really wants.

To keep you productive and focused before the holiday break, here are some savvy tips that you may want to try.

Get some social media detox

Back in the days, we just know that people are having fun and preparing for Christmas as the holidays draw near.

But in today’s age of social media, we actually get to see the photos our friends, family, and colleagues doing fun stuff, going out of town, setting up their Christmas trees, and having reunions.

And for many of us, it can be distracting. One vacation photo could set our mind flying to the holiday break, grilling some steak, or drinking a nice cold bottle of beer. 

To avoid these instances, you may want to take some time off social media. Of course, it’s impossible to completely stop using Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, but you can set a schedule for yourself.

For example, limit yourself to at least an hour of checking out your social media accounts within your work hours. It might seem like a small effort, but you’ll be amazed at the results. 

Make a list and check it twice

Even Santa who works overtime during the holiday season makes a list. Keeping a list of the task you need to finish before the year ends will help you know your progress. 

Better yet, plot all your tasks in a calendar that you can put up in your workstation. This way, you have an idea which to prioritize on certain days.

If you want, you can create a separate list of personal tasks for all your holiday chores and plot it on your calendar accordingly to make sure that they won’t interfere with the tasks you have to complete.

And when you’re done with everything, you can take a photo of all your task list, post it on social media to tell everybody that you are ready to party. 

Have yourself some merry little breaks

The more you deny yourself of something, the more you crave for it. So, it’s not entirely ideal to shut yourself out from the rest of the world when everyone is just having fun. 

Go and take some time off work, schedule vacation leaves if you still have some credits left, mark some days on the calendar when you think you can take it easy at work. 

The key here is to schedule your little breaks where it would not interfere with the tasks that you are trying to finish. 

Have some fun, celebrate with friends when you can, but don’t forget to work. Balance it out and you’ll be surprised to see yourself more energized to finish your remaining workload.

Take it easy on that barbecue and beer

You know what they say, ‘tis the season to indulge on all those tasty holiday dishes. But did you know that most of the traditional holiday foods can impact your productivity?

Yes, consuming more of those ham, turkey, or barbecue can make one feel bloated and slow at work, which of course will be a problem if you need to finish some tasks quickly.

And beer, we all know what it can do. Alcohol is fun, but with a pile of workload in front of you, it wouldn’t be any help at all.

While it is tempting to feast on all the holiday food available, you may want to take them lightly. Munch on some meat, get a bottle of booze occasionally, but never go overboard. 

If you are really hungry, try to eat some “brain food” or food that increases your ability to focus, such as nuts, some eggs, salad, or even fish meat like salmon. For liquids, water, tea, or coffee is your friend.