It’s that time – the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the holidays. When you quickly become inundated with holiday songs, shopping deals and the prospect of seeing family members you’ve not seen all year, it’s easy for your work focus to fade.

But once you’ve done all your fa-la-la-la-la’ing, you still have a job to come back to, right? As responsible professionals, we have to learn how to be productive at all times of the year. Yes, you absolutely should take time to enjoy the holidays with your friends and loved ones. That’s exactly what I plan to do.

However, the holidays come and go, but I know my work responsibilities will be waiting for me when I return to reality. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re shopping for your Christmas tree.

1. Go ahead and get that big project done. We all have it… that one project we’ve been putting off for quite some time. Maybe it’s a strategic plan that you’ve not taken time to plan. Or, it might be that article that you just can’t seem to get started. I live and breathe for checking things off my list, especially when I know I’ll be out of the office for more than a couple of days. It’s best to go ahead and bite the bullet so that upon your return, that’s one less thing waiting for your attention.
2. Take advantage of other people being out of the office. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished without distractions. Between the phone ringing and emails chiming, maintaining attention on something important can become an ongoing challenge. During the holidays, people tend to take extended leaves of absence. Use that silence to your advantage. You can plan ahead on tasks coming up in the new year; reflect back over your accomplishments from the current year; or even do something as productive as cleaning off your desk. There are no boundaries to what you can accomplish when it’s quiet in the office!
3. Be strategically It’s all about perception when you’re out of the office for the holidays. You can be hiking in the mountains or lounging on the beach – other people don’t have to know where you are. All they need to know is you’ll make yourself available if you need to be. As long as you heed tips one and two, this tip should be a breeze.

You’ve worked hard this year, and you deserve to take some time off to relax and re-energize. While you’re planning for your vacation, how about planning for your return as well? It will make your life so much easier.

Happy holidays!