Perhaps you have enjoyed a quiet week away from home and work on a secluded beach in the south or maybe you have been at home enjoying the company of family and friends. Either way, the holidays are almost over. Sad though it is, it’s time to start planning to get back into a routine. Below I have provided some tips to recover from the holidays.
Put Yourself First
It may seem counter intuitive since you were just enjoying the holidays, but take care of yourself first. Eat well, get good quality sleep, and do a bit of exercising – even a brisk walk in the fresh air will help create a positive focus. When you are healthy and well-rested it will be easier to recover from the holidays.
Start at Home
Getting your life on track is much easier when your home is organized. Tackle these tasks first to make a big impact.
Collect important paperwork like bills and receipts. Place them all in one spot. You might not be able to deal with them all at once but if they are in one box you can work for 15 minutes at a time to get all your paperwork processed. Add your holiday cards to the pile so you can update your address book too.
Toss the trash. Walk from room to room with a trash bag in hand. Toss all the trash in the bag. Repeat the process with a recycle bin. Repeat the process with a basket for anything to go to charity. This step isn’t mean to be an in-depth decluttering – it’s a quick fix to clear floors and surfaces, and empty trash/recycle bins throughout the home. You can concentrate on a more thorough decluttering later.
Conquer the mountain of laundry. If you have been travelling or hosting guests for the holidays you likely have several loads of laundry. It takes about an hour to wash, dry, and fold, each load. It might take several days to get it all processed. Consider taking all of it to the laundromat. It might cost a little more than doing it at home but by using several extra capacity washers and dryers at the same time, all of your laundry will be cleaned in only a few hours.
Get the kitchen under control. Clear the unknown leftovers from the fridge. Wash all the dishes and put them away. Give surfaces (including inside the fridge) a good wipe down with a disinfectant cleaner.
Plan for decluttering – next month. With holidays often including a gift exchange, you may have accumulated excess clothing, electronics, toys, and other household goods. Schedule a day (or two) on your calendar next month to declutter.
Gear up for Work
Just like at home, collect important paperwork like invoices and bills. Place them all in one spot so they will be ready when you are back at your desk full time. Remember tax season will be here before you know it. Having your paperwork all in one place will help you process your taxes more easily.
Triage your email. Have a plan on how to sort your email before you open your inbox. You can sort by subject/project then by priority within each subject/project. Remember the 5Ds of time management as you sort and delegate where you can.
Avoid meetings if possible. If you are the boss, wait to schedule meetings until a few days after everyone has returned. Staff will have had the chance to process their inboxes and get their priorities in order. If you are a staff member, try to excuse yourself from all but the most essential meetings.
Set up for success. Take a few minutes and make sure you have all the tools you need to get your job done. Get your computer updates completed. (They sometimes take several hours.) Ensure you have office supplies like pens, notebooks, printer paper, and ink, etc. and arrange them so they are easily accessible.
If you need a bit of help to recover from the holidays, Out of Chaos can provide customized services to suit your needs. Simply send us an inquiry through our website.
Image by vivienviv0 from Pixabay
