3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the Holidays

3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the HolidaysDont let your holiday shopping, budgeting, travel-planningor the weatherget the better of you this season. Stay focused on wrapping up your year and gearing up for 2017. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Deflect the interruptionsThe holidays are always extra distracting. Prepare yourself for the inevitable onslaught and dont let yourself give in. Instead, use the interruptions to structure your day. Online shopping session? Office cookie break? Set these as deadlines for you to work toward and remain diligentuntil its time for your break.2. Look for the right projectsEveryones schedules are erratic during the holidays. If youre stuck working when everyone else is out of office, use the peace and quiet to get work done on your pet projects and big picture tasks. And dont forget that holiday parties and lingering team lunches can be a great networking opportunity, rather than a waste o f time.3. Dont take it homeStaying focused at the desk means you dont have to stay late to get ahead or be on your email 24/7. Make sure to save your off-work hours for all of those distractions youve been fending off so successfully. Save time for your shopping and traveling and package-mailing and savor it. Guard it, even. And if youre worried about getting those things done, schedule them as though they were after-hours meetings.Being mindful about distractions and staying focused will make you more relaxed throughout the holiday season. Youll probably find youre way ahead of the game once the fun is over and everybodys back at work.