Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit

Tis the season to be merry and bright and productive as heck, right…

Ooooh, the holidays! A time to cash in that PTO, gather the fam, and celebrate! But for lots of us, we still have to hustle and grind and work so striking the balance between festive and functional, jolly and “just circling back here” is crucial.

PR is kind of a 24/7 gig. You never know when a journalist on a tight deadline might reach out with an email Q&A or a client might get into a crisis or when a story will pop up that may need a correction to be coordinated. With that in mind, so many PR folks work through the holiday season without a break and it was only in the last year that I personally started carving out time to take away from my laptop in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I have written bylines on Christmas Eve morning and organized emails Christmas night after everyone was in bed after a long day of celebrating. PR pro or otherwise, it can be tricky to be productive when you want to be napping under the Christmas tree and forgetting which day of the week it is.

It feels good to be productive but it also feels good to rest! No matter your situation, here are some quick tips if you find yourself working during this “dead week” between two big holidays.

Embrace the Quiet: Ok, so I kind of like getting things done during the holiday week. I’m not saying that when I’m gathered ‘round the fire with my kids I’m secretly wishing to be alone at my laptop but the days after Christmas can be so productive for me because things aren’t as noisy (in a good way!) as usual. Every year I use this quieter week to do the admin work that can be harder to do during ultra busy days. Fellow PR and marketing pals know, the Q4 hustle to approve the new year plans and strategy can be a STRUGGLE but it means that during dead week I can write the media pitches that have been planned and approved, schedule client emails to send after the break, research awards and speaking opps for my executive visibility clients, clean up/update media lists, and prep invoices for end-of-month…and maybe even prep my tax stuff. Bonus: I start the year feeling super prepped n’ productive.

But Indulge in the Background Noise: As I mentioned in my post about holiday meltdowns, I like a little background noise when I work. So when I’m getting things done around the holidays I listen to Christmas music or podcasts about self betterment to get me revved up for the new year (I have been l-o-v-i-n-g Magic Mindset with Heather Maio as I plan out some personal goals but Molly and I will share our fave podcasts soon). If your brain likes multi-tasking, too, take advantage of the probable lack of Zoom meetings and client calls to jam to your favorite holiday tunes or put on a cozy movie in the background while you work, work, work.

Adjust Expectations (for You and Everyone Else, Too): Strike that balance during the down time! Don’t push yourself to get anything you possibly can done. Prioritize your to-do list, do what you can, and remember to rest when possible. And please, please, please if you are working during the holiday slowdown I implore you to respect the PTO calendar and remember that just because you are working, others might not be. In the last few years I realized how important time away is so when someone else is taking it I do not bother them. I refuse. I am a founding member of the Figure It Out Club and this helps me not 911 email colleagues who are trying to ski or swim or simply chill during their valuable time off.

Whether you are tackling end-of-year deadlines, prepping for the year ahead, or vibing on your couch and relaxing, we hope you have the best time possible.

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