Minimizing Disruption, Very few can thrive in a chaotic atmosphere. You won't bring your best self or your best work in the midst of chaos. . An important thing to remember is this: Self Aware and Self Care.
As we kick off our Disruption Series, I can’t ignore the fact that we’re in the throes of the holiday season. What could be more disruptive, mad dashes to shops, holiday parties, readiness issues with gift buying, and travel. Ominous project due dates precariously close to Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, not to mention the seemingly collective unavailability of co-workers to forge ahead with…anything.
All of the above contributes to a kind of disruption that does not allow you to function or progress normally or steadily with daily routines and project schedules. Project timelines may suffer, but so could you.
Holidays are notorious for upending the status quo. An important thing to remember is this: Self Aware and Self Care. How are you holding up? Are you being realistic, planning for what you can, and reassessing what you know you and your colleagues can’t get to – 100% -until after the holidays wrap?
Ask yourself:
Am I being realistic?
Very few can thrive in a chaotic atmosphere. You won’t bring your best self or your best work in the midst of chaos…and holidays are chaotic. Evaluate what you can manage during the holidays. Commit to that readjusted, internally motivated production schedule, and adhere to it. Rally your colleagues and pursuits of project goals ‘after’ the holidays.
Practice acceptance.
During the holidays, moods, and emotions become especially unpredictable – maybe for you and perhaps for those around you. If tempers and attitudes seem especially fragile, accept them for what they are and be sensitive to the ‘triggers of the season’ (over-budget spending, diets gone awry, missing loved ones). Let your silent gift to others be compassion and understanding, and not adding fuel to the fire.
Balance your work plans with your life plans.
Work doesn’t go away during the holidays. Holiday demands of shopping, baking, entertaining and visiting others doesn’t go away either. Set aside specific days-times-agendas for your office work and for your personal needs. Treat each set of plans independently and give them the focus they deserve. At work, don’t think about gifts you want to give. Likewise, when taking care of personal shopping and activities, don’t have your cell phone and computer at the ready to jump into office mode. You’ll thank yourself for this strategy with a much more relaxed and enjoyable holiday.
Add a little “No-no-no” to your “Ho-ho-ho!”
Saying YES to the whirlwind of activities (at work AND at home) during the holidays, can leave you over-committed and utterly overwhelmed. Take a breather. Colleagues, friends, and family will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If a work situation dictates overtime during these times, remove something else from your agenda to make up for lost time. It may be as simple as effective re-prioritization of project activities and looking at planned tasks in new, more creative, and more expeditious ways.
Lastly, set aside the important “me” time you need to stay healthy.
We all live disruption during the holidays. But don’t let holiday eating and rushing sabotage your otherwise healthy lifestyle. You can restore your inner calm by setting aside just 15-20 minutes a day just for you. Exercise. Take a walk. Stargaze at night. Listen to music. Read a book or magazine. Be still in meditation or writing.
These simple strategies will help unclutter your mind and help you cope in any disruptive times, be it holidays, projects, or work restructuring.
