The holiday season is here and with it comes festive cookies, holiday parties, and family fun! We all enjoy spending time with loved ones and finding the perfect gifts, but balancing extra activities during the holidays can be a challenge when you attend school, work, and have a family life.
With so much going on during this special time of year, how can you ensure everything gets done without you becoming stressed and overwhelmed?
Read on as we share our top tips with you for balancing school, work, and life during the holidays!
Tip #1 – Stay Organized
The key to getting everything on your list done during the holiday season is to stay organized. The best way to do this is to use your calendar to organize everything you need to do. If using a digital calendar like Google Calendar, you can also set alerts to be notified when it’s time to do something you scheduled.
Start by adding all your school information to your calendar, including your class schedule, due dates, and exam dates. If you know you will need to study for an exam, block off time on your calendar to get it done. Now add your work schedule, family activities, and events you will be attending to your calendar.
Once you have everything added, you’ll have a better idea of when and how you can get everything done. If you are overbooked, you may need to remove something or change your commitments.
Tip #2 – Use Time Management
Practicing good time management is the secret for balancing school, work, and life during the holidays. When setting aside time to get specific things done, be realistic about how much time it will take to complete and ensure you have given yourself enough time.
Don’t over book yourself and commit to too many things, as this will cause unnecessary stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Prioritize your school, work, and family activities that need to get done. Once you’ve done this, if you need to remove something from your schedule, you can take out a lower priority item and still get the important stuff completed.
Tip #3 – Get Ahead
Since the holidays are such a busy time, try to get ahead as much as possible, so you have more time for holiday fun. Get ahead of schoolwork like projects and assignments, and work ahead at your job as much as you can.
For example, if you have a project at work that’s due right before Christmas, try to get it done early so you’re not stressed about trying to finish it right before the due date. Definitely do not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get something done because the quality of your work may not be as high, and you can become easily stressed and irritated.
Start your Christmas shopping early so you’re not running around looking for gifts on Christmas Eve. Remember to allow extra time when ordering gifts online, because shipping always takes longer during the holidays.
Tip #4 – Practice Self-Care
Now that you’re organized, using good time management, and getting ahead, it’s time to practice some self-care. The holidays are meant to be a joyful time with family and friends, so keep this in mind when you feel overwhelmed.
Getting enough sleep and eating healthy are two great ways to practice self-care during the holidays. You may be tempted to sleep less to get things done, but there are many scientific studies that show not getting enough sleep is bad for your health and productivity. When surrounded by so much food and sweets during the holidays, it can be easy to eat whatever is available, instead of eating healthily. Try to eat healthily to keep your energy up during this busy time!
Make time for yourself to relax and recharge during the busy holiday season. Schedule your self-care time on your calendar if you need to. It can seem counterproductive to do nothing, but you will feel much better after recharging your energy. Remember, you can always say “no” if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Balance School, Work, and Life with BTC
We know you’re busy, so our career training programs are designed to work with your hectic life. At Boardman Training Center, we offer day and evening classes, personalized attention, small class sizes, and hands-on learning to prepare you for a rewarding healthcare career.
Learn more about our Cardio Phlebotomy, EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Office Specialist programs and request information today to get started!