This time of the year is always the busiest for me at work – and we’re not exactly coming off a low base! Over the years I have figured out some ways to help manage busy work periods, so I thought I would share them with you too. These tips are mostly about what I do outside of work to assist and I’d love to hear your tips as well!
Meal Prep
I meal prep pretty much all the time, but I really lean into it to help me manage busy work periods. Setting aside some time on the weekend to plan, shop and prepare will seriously help you get through the working week. Knowing that I can have dinner on the table in no time at all takes a huge amount of stress from my day, and stops me from gravitating to less healthy options instead. I also find having lunch ready to go means that no matter how out of control my work day might get, or how short a gap I might have between meetings, I don’t find myself fading with hunger.
Remove Decisions Where Possible
When you have 10,000 things to manage during your working day, now is not the time to complicate things outside it as well. This doesn’t necessarily require going completely Steve Jobs and wearing the exact same outfit each day, but the less decisions you have to make the better. Meal prep is a big part of this, but it can also be things like setting out your clothes the night before or following the same routine each morning – the more you can simplify the better!
Don’t overload your social calendar
It can be tempting during busy periods to feel like you need to reward yourself by planning lots of fun activities. Now, I’m not saying become a total social recluse, but I find scaling back my outside work commitments is key to managing busy work periods. Late nights on workdays or too many weekend activities can leave you sapped of energy which just makes getting through your work even more difficult. Instead, make sure you have time to rest and recharge, and plan those fun events for when your work calms down a little more.
Outsource anything you can
When you’re trying to manage a busy work period the more things you can take off your to-do list outside of work the better. This could be as simple as getting your groceries delivered to save a trip to the shops through to getting in a cleaner for a few weeks if money allows. This will help give you more time to recharge your batteries which will help you get through the working day more successfully too.
Set up structures to prioritise your work
Funnily enough, one of the best ways to manage busy work periods is actually managing your work as well as you can! This means making sure you clear on timelines, interdependencies and consequences of the work and prioritising appropriately. I’ve shared a post on how I do this previously – but one of the key takeaways is ensuring you stay adaptable and flexible too!
How do you manage busy work periods?
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!