Christmas is nearly here, but the run-up to the festive break can be one of the most stressful times of your working year. Hour Hands Co-Founder, Liz Goscomb, shares her top 5 tips on how to clear your desk for Christmas, so that you can fully enjoy your well-earned time off work.

To make sure you can walk away from the office without any last minute stress, take some time now to think about what you need to deal during the next week.

1. Prioritise

Prioritise the work that you know you need to complete before Christmas – can anything wait until you return to work after the holidays? For each of your key tasks or projects, set out what needs to be done, work out how long things will take, and delegate if you can. Build some contingency in wherever possible.

2. Goodwill to others

If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve taken care of Christmas gifts for your employees and clients. If you were too busy to meet up for Christmas drinks or a meal, a January event can be more cost-effective and is a nice way to mark the new year.

3. Write everything down

Hopefully you’ll be switching off during the holidays and focusing on home rather than business, so use a notepad to create a list for when you’re back at work:

• What must be finished before Christmas?
• Can you postpone anything until after Christmas, if necessary?
• What are the immediate priorities for your return?
• Which ideas and projects do you want to tackle in 2019?

Making a note of these things as they come to your mind means they won’t become a distraction or slip through the net.

4. Clever scheduling

Make sure your clients and suppliers know your company’s hours over the Christmas period. And don’t arrange meetings or schedule major tasks for your last day in the office!

5. Clear your desk

Clear your desk so you return to an organised space – this will help ease you back into work mode, come January.

And finally…

Put the out of office on, relax and enjoy your break! Merry Christmas.