Image provided by Canva.com
Dear friends,
The end of the year can be a crazy time. Everyone is pushing to get through their pre-vacation to-do lists, and that means things land on your plate just before you head out of the office (figuratively). I am also finding it time-consuming to navigate holiday fun- so many last-minute changes in plans and venue! On top of that, we are still working as though we are in lockdown. I have been asking colleagues how they manage the year-end rush, and here is the best answer I got: “All my strategies went out the window in 2020.”
I feel a bit sheepish about advising anyone since I find this time very challenging myself. When a lot of tasks loom over me, future worry can take over. Asking myself the following question has been helping me complete my tasks: “What do I need to do now, in this moment?” I find that it helps to put tasks on the calendar according to my priorities and then stop thinking about the big picture. It’s better to accomplish one thing than spend 20 minutes staring at my calendar and wishing for a time machine.
For this to work, you need to designate a time to re-prioritize as needed based on new developments. What this means for me is that I schedule tasks onto my calendar, and then look at my email twice a day, in the middle of the day and at the end of the day. I list out the new tasks that come from my inbox and find a place on my calendar for each one. This requires pushing some work further into the future. That feels scary, but not as anxiety-provoking as not knowing how all the work is going to happen. It also facilitates saying no. I have found that letting people know when you are able to take on a task might lead them to ask someone else.
Finally, for my do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do moment, maintain your boundaries. I recently cancelled a dentist’s appointment in favor of a work meeting, and I fervently hope the lesson you take away is to never follow my example in this. The new year is, in the final analysis, an arbitrary date on the calendar, and the idea of having all your work wrapped up with a bow is an artificial expectation.
As always, please send me your good news and stay in touch. Feel free to share the blog with anyone- you can sign up at the bottom of the page here. I hope to see all of you in person soon.
Wishing you peace, joy, and a better year ahead for all of us,
Urmimala