6 Creative Time Management Strategies to Keep Writing this Holiday Season
It’s that time of year again: the holidays.
The ones where many people seem to be running around frantically trying to accomplish 6 months worth of cleaning in the 2 weeks before families gather for one of the biggest celebrations of the year.
Well, that’s how it usually is at least. This year is a little different! We may not be gathering as much as usual, but we’re all definitely home for the holidays, which means joy!...and lots of needs.
It might feel like our writing is at the bottom of our list of “important” things, but the reality is that our creativity and writing does matter to our daily lives.
There are many stressors and many personal joys getting put aside for the sake of preparing for the holidays. Taking care of extra household chores and possibly extra people in our homes is a lot of work! It might feel like our writing is at the bottom of our list of “important” things, but the reality is that our creativity and writing does matter to our daily lives - even if it’s just a momentary escape from the humdrum or a blessed relief from people needing us so much.
So in honor of the busiest time of year, I’ve put together some simple strategies to help you keep writing this holiday season.
6 Creative Time Management Strategies that Will Help you Stay Sane this Holiday Season
Although simple, these strategies work! I use them in my daily life, and although they work on a regular basis, they’re even better around the holidays. Rest assured: you’re not alone in your stress! You’ll get through it and these strategies will help.
Stay Calm
First and foremost, panic is the enemy of productivity and creativity. If you’re in a frenzy about how to do all the things you’ll end up doing nothing. Not the necessary tasks, not the fun tasks - you’ll just worry about all of them and remain frozen in inaction.
So, when you think about all the things you need to do, take a deep breath and stay calm while you figure things out.
So, when you think about all the things you need to do, take a deep breath and stay calm while you figure things out. This is probably one of the trickiest things to do when you’re already worked up, but it’s critical. If one breath doesn’t work, take however many you need to clear your mind enough to move forward.
Make a List
I’m not just saying this because I love lists (because I SO do): creating a list of tasks to complete is probably the simplest and easiest way to help you organize yourself and manage your time. When you sit down (calmly, of course) to think about all the tasks you need to do AND you write them down, not only are they much more likely to get done, but you also won’t have to worry about forgetting them!
If you’re wondering whether your writing should count as a task: Yes. Put your writing on the list of things you need to do this holiday season. It’s for you, it’s something you love, and your creativity is worth investing your time in, even when time feels like a scarce commodity.
Use Your Calendar!
Once you have your list, begin to put things on your calendar. Whether you like a hands-on paper calendar or a digital calendar - schedule time for tasks. Talk to the people who live in your house and tell them what you’re doing.
Putting things on the calendar makes them feel more important. Just like a meeting at work or a doctor’s appointment, your tasks at home, including writing, warrant setting aside time. Telling the people around you about your plan will help create an awareness that you’ll be doing things a little differently so you’ll need support and perhaps extra help.
Take One Small Step at a Time
Seeing a laundry list of things to do can be overwhelming. Seeing a busy calendar full of things you need to do can be a lot to take in, especially if you’re not used to seeing things there! Or planning ahead.
The most important thing to remember is to keep taking small steps forward.
The most important thing to remember is to keep taking small steps forward. Even if you miss your goal for household chores or skip a writing session you planned, you can still spend some time doing each task. Maybe it’s 15 minutes hiding from everyone in the bathroom to get some semblance of peace and quiet so you can empty your brain onto the page. Maybe it’s cleaning as many dishes as you can while dinner is in the oven and thinking about that creative idea you had earlier - multi-tasking for the win.
Small steps are still steps, just like small progress is still progress.
Just Say “No”
The holidays seem to come with a crazy amount of extra requests for help or time together or even just to listen about how hard everything has been this year. While we don’t want to become Grinchs, we also don’t need to be “Yes Men” either.
It’s okay, and healthy, to set boundaries when everyone wants you to do everything or prepare everything or take care of everyone. It’s okay to say “no,” even to your family who you love so dearly. You are only one person. So, if something comes up out of the blue that’s not an emergency (because we can’t predict those), seriously consider whether you a) want to do whatever it is they’re asking and b) whether you have the emotional and physical bandwidth for the task.
It’s not always about being nice or flexible - those things are both great - but, sometimes people forget that you have your own things to worry about, too.
Enlist Help
There’s this romantic idea that being home for the holidays is this fabulous time without frustration and stress, but, as you probably know from the rest of the year, being home so much with so many people (thanks, COVID) - even when you love them - is enough to drive anyone crazy.
When your To-Do list looks like something that’s going to walk right out of a Stephen King novel, it’s time to enlist help.
When your To-Do list looks like something that’s going to walk right out of a Stephen King novel, it’s time to enlist help. Partners, kids, and anyone else living under your roof who is able-bodied can help you with the little things. You can even make a game out of it! But, one thing is for sure: the holidays don’t mean that you alone signed up for extra work on behalf of everyone who will enjoy the benefits of it.
Next Steps
I know this time of year is hella stressful. Most of us aren’t even travelling as usual and it’s still complicated! The good news is that there are ways to help yourself manage this holiday season, and get some writing done to boot.
You have the strategies, but what’s next?
Look at your calendar and see when you will be busiest. It’s still early, so you have time to think about it!
Make a tentative plan for how you think the holidays will play out. Start making your list of what you already know you need to get done. Make those decisions about when you’re going where or if you’re even traveling at all.
Share your plan with people who can (and should) help you! Prepare the people around you. Tell them about what you’re doing, tell them what you expect, and tell them what you need. Tell them how much you love them and are grateful for them - this will (hopefully) make them less resistant to pitching in!
Take a breath of relief because you’re going to be just fine. My mom has always said, “This, too, shall pass” and it’s never failed to happen. Even if this is the worst holiday season you ever experience (I hope not!), it will pass and you’ll be okay. Know that you’re loved and appreciated. (And if you need an extra reminder of how awesome you are, email me right now - I’ll shower you with praise! rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com).
My challenge to you is to take a breath, make a plan, and build time into your busy holiday season for your writing. You’ll feel great about it!
Do you write during the holidays? How do you maintain motivation? Do you have other ways to manage your time so you can keep writing? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media and/or drop a comment below.
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.