How to Actually Work as Christmas Approaches

The autumn leaves have barely finished falling when the first tinsel appears in shop windows, and suddenly we’re hurtling toward December 25th at alarming speed. For most of us, this creates a peculiar cognitive dissonance. Our calendars fill with deadlines and year-end deliverables whilst our minds drift toward holiday plans, gift lists, and the promise of time off. All the while we’re left wondering how we can navigate this uniquely challenging period without compromising our professional responsibilities or our sanity.

The phenomenon of the pre-Christmas productivity slump is well documented. Research by the HR analytics group Peakon found that up to 57 per cent of British workers admitted they had mentally checked out by the third week of December, with some engaging in online shopping, others planning Christmas Day festivities, and nearly 20 per cent leaving work earlier than usual [1]. What’s particularly striking is that younger workers tend to disengage even earlier. More than a third of those aged between 18 and 34 reported festive distractions cutting their productivity by mid-December [2].

This isn’t merely a British affliction. In the United States, most employees expected to lose focus at work by 16 December, whilst German workers followed a day or so later [3]. The pattern is clear, as the year draws to a close, our collective attention span contracts, regardless of how many urgent emails populate our inboxes. In Ireland, things are no different.

Pressures

What makes the pre-Christmas period particularly vexing is that it combines multiple sources of stress into a perfect storm of distraction. As Benjamin Laker, a university professor who writes about leadership, observed in Forbes, “this time of year is often laden with social commitments, family responsibilities, and the general hustle and bustle that comes with preparing for the holidays” [4]. These aren’t trivial distractions that can be dismissed with willpower alone. They represent legitimate demands on our time, energy, and emotional resources.

The workplace itself often contributes to the chaos. Many organisations experience what Jeff Maggs of Brunner agency described as the “December dip” [5], a predictable downturn in productivity that coincides with reduced working hours, employees taking annual leave, and the general anticipation of the holiday break. For some industries, however, December brings the opposite problem of an increase in workload as everyone scrambles to complete projects before the year ends. Suddenly workers must accomplish the same amount (or more) in less time, whilst simultaneously managing heightened personal obligations.

The financial pressures of the season compound these difficulties. Gift-buying, travel arrangements, and the expectation of hosting or attending multiple social events all require resources that may already be stretched thin. Economic worries have made recent holiday seasons particularly stressful for many people [6]. When your budget is already under strain, the pressure to maintain festive appearances whilst meeting professional obligations becomes considerably more acute.

Peak performance myths

Perhaps the first step toward managing this period effectively is abandoning the fiction that we can maintain peak productivity throughout December whilst simultaneously embracing the festive season. The reality is that something has to give, and acknowledging this is more pragmatic than defeatist.

Strategic planning becomes essential. Rather than attempting to power through with sheer determination, successful navigation of the pre-Christmas period requires what Laker described as “a balance of good planning, effective time management, and self-care” [7]. This means establishing clear and realistic goals for the holiday season, understanding your actual capacity rather than your aspirational one, and setting achievable objectives that account for the genuine distractions you’ll face.

Breaking larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks proves particularly valuable during this period. Laker explained that this approach “makes the larger goal seem less daunting and allows for a sense of accomplishment as each smaller task is completed” [8]. When your attention span is fractured by competing demands, the ability to point to concrete progress, however modest, becomes psychologically crucial.

Time management tools can be particularly useful in December. Calendars and to-do lists help organise your time efficiently, but the key is prioritising ruthlessly based on importance and deadlines. As Laker advised, “remember, not everything needs to be done immediately” [9]. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in focused bursts followed by short breaks, can be especially effective when your concentration is under siege from festive distractions.

Setting boundaries

One of the most challenging aspects of the pre-Christmas period is managing the boundary between work and personal life, which becomes peculiarly porous at this time of year. The expectation to be simultaneously productive at work and fully engaged with holiday preparations creates what amounts to a double shift for many of us.

Setting clear boundaries requires communication with both family and colleagues. Laker noted it’s “essential to communicate your availability to family and colleagues, making it clear when you will be working and when you will be available for holiday activities” [10]. This clear demarcation helps manage expectations and reduces the guilt that often accompanies the attempt to juggle work and personal commitments.

For many professionals, learning to say no becomes particularly important in December. Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed therapist and author of Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships, suggested three approaches. First, you can simply say “No,” because it’s a complete sentence. Second, you can say “No, not right now” and suggest a different timeline. Or, finally, you can say “I can’t do this, but I can do that” [11]. The key is recognising that declining invitations or requests doesn’t make you a Grinch, it just makes you someone who understands their own limitations.

This extends to workplace social events as well. Whilst office Christmas parties can be valuable for team morale when done thoughtfully, they represent yet another demand on already overstretched schedules. Noel Cunningham, a presenter and etiquette expert, recommends “not putting yourself under so much pressure. You are not going to lose good friends or family because you didn’t go for drinks” [12]. If you’re anxious about these gatherings, arriving early can actually make them more manageable. Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, explained that going early is counterintuitive but effective “because there will be fewer people, and you can have more focused conversations” [13].

Environment

Physical adjustments to your work environment can significantly impact your ability to maintain focus during the festive season. For those working from home, establishing a dedicated workspace away from holiday chaos proves invaluable. Laker suggested this might mean “converting a quiet corner of your living room into a temporary office, equipped with a comfortable chair, adequate lighting, and minimal distractions” [14].

For office workers, smaller interventions can make a substantial difference. Wearing noise-cancelling headphones can help maintain focus and productivity amidst the festive atmosphere by filtering out chatter and holiday music [15]. These tools become particularly useful during times when the office environment grows unusually loud, allowing concentration on tasks without disturbance from surrounding noise.

Some organisations have begun to acknowledge the reality of the December productivity challenge by adapting their expectations. Kevin Winfield, an associate director at Jargon PR agency, observed that “for many of our clients, their industries tend to slow down at this time of year and, especially since the pandemic, many businesses have embraced the need to shut down over the festive period to give their teams time off” [16]. This recognition that fighting against the tide of festive distraction may be less effective than working with it represents a pragmatic approach to an enduring challenge.

Rest

Whilst the pre-Christmas period demands heightened productivity in compressed timeframes, it simultaneously requires increased attention to self-care. The festive period, whilst often joyful, frequently becomes a source of stress, and neglecting personal wellbeing creates a direct path to burnout. Laker noted “it’s important to ensure that you are getting enough sleep, as a well-rested mind is more efficient and less prone to stress” [17].

The irritating irony is that at precisely the moment when we feel we can least afford to rest, rest becomes most essential. The solution lies in what might be called strategic restoration, which is to say deliberately building in moments of recovery rather than waiting for complete collapse. This might mean allocating time each evening for activities that genuinely relax and rejuvenate, whether that’s reading, meditation, or engaging in a hobby that brings joy [18].

Physical activity can be especially useful, not only for stress relief but also for maintaining overall health and productivity. Laker says “this might mean taking a brisk walk in the morning, practicing yoga, or doing a quick home workout” [19]. These activities help manage stress whilst simultaneously boosting the energy levels needed to navigate both professional and personal demands.

Research by Neathouse Partners found that more than 50 per cent of employees say they feel stressed at work in the run-up to Christmas [20]. The time constraints in the workplace are a major reason for this, as some workers feel there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all their tasks before the holiday. When employees feel under pressure, they may be less productive or produce inaccurate work, which can impact the company directly.

Perhaps most importantly, we need to cultivate what psychoanalyst Josh Cohen described as the capacity for “aimlessness, for letting the mind wander without specific goal or purpose” [21]. In a season characterised by relentless demands and endless to-do lists, creating space for genuine rest, not merely switching from work tasks to personal tasks, becomes an act of self-preservation. Cohen argues that gratuitousness is “the secret of pleasure: doing something for the scandalous motive of just wanting to” [22]. Whether it’s painting, writing, singing, or simply staring out the window, these purposeless activities invite us to bend and break the rules of productivity that govern our working lives.

Nutrition and energy

The temptation to abandon normal nutritional habits during December is powerful, but a month of indulgence can wreak havoc on productivity. As Rebecca Clarke noted in HR Review, whilst having truffles and mince pies for breakfast “might be ok for a day or two, a whole month of indulgence will play havoc on your productivity not to mention your waistline” [23]. The advice to avoid excessive sugar consumption is particularly relevan. Too much blood sugar can result in a low mood and short attention span, exactly what you should avoid at work.

Research shows that blood sugar highs and lows can lead to reduced focus and a more reactive than proactive day [24]. Sticking to healthy snacks such as fruit and nuts during the day provides a source of longer-lasting energy to keep you fuelled and help prevent lulls in productivity [25].

Social obligations

The social calendar expands dramatically in December, creating what many experience as an obligation to squeeze in as much socialising as possible before the year ends. Dr John Francis Leader, honorary secretary of the Psychological Society of Ireland, explained there are psychological factors at play: “It’s a psychological thing about deadlines and the end of the year, and also the idea that Christmas is about coming together” [26].

This rush to see everyone can become overwhelming. Dr Leader advised taking an intentional approach: “Be proactive instead of reactive when the messages come in. There is no air traffic control coordinating all the flights coming in…ahead of Christmas, see if you can have some of those connections so all the flights are not landing at once” [27]. He also suggested asking yourself honest questions about who you really want to see, because there are only so many hours in the day, and you have to prioritise.

Cunningham had similar advice, recommending that people push catch-ups into January and February: “Look to January and February –– dreary, grey wintery months. Give yourselves something to look forward to” [28].

Merry Xmas

Ultimately, surviving the pre-Christmas period at work requires accepting that perfection is unattainable. You will be distracted. Some tasks will slip. Your productivity will likely dip, at least temporarily. The goal isn’t to prevent this entirely but to manage it gracefully whilst maintaining your wellbeing and professional relationships.