GROPAY’S 5 TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

With all the preparations for the holiday, last week deadlines, the multitude of drinks, parties, last minute shopping as well as high expectations from family and friends, it is easy to get lost in this busy time before the Holidays. Your work seems to include a sprint finish it all off right to the moment when everybody disappears for 1-2 weeks. Or if you are momentarily without work, you feel perhaps some despair at the holiday where no offers or invitations for interview may come through. Whatever your work situation, your personal situation or your ability to multitask looks like, this week before the “Winter break” can be rather daunting.

Without wanting to add to your growing list of things-to-do, take some heart in our top 5 tips to do things differently for the holiday, for future career and to simply enjoy. Happy Holidays and happy reading!

This is the time to show your positive attitude!

Perhaps things have been tough in 2017? Nothing better than the start of the New Year to make a fresh start, set some new goals and to change things around. The good thing is, people around you will be a lot more open to listen, the holiday season mellows the toughest critics and you musing about your plans for the New Year may be welcomed more than usual. So this is the moment to bring out your positive attitude, make your plan for your new year and go for it. A New Year, new chances for career, love, family and all those things you may desire. Don’t forget to reciprocate to one another: when your friend, colleague, neighbor shares their goals for the New Year, offer them your friendly ear and some kind encouragement. 2018 has some great stuff coming for us all! Why would it not?!

Preparation = salvation

It can be stressful trying to plan your slightly challenging family Christmas dinner, finish this project before Friday, find the perfect gift under the tree for the love of your life or manage to get to your kid’s school performance while the roads are slippery and packed. The busier your planning, the better preparation you need. Before slipping out for the work end-of-the-years drinks, take 10 minutes to plan the next day. Do you know what is expected tomorrow, can you collect the necessary documents for that meeting and should you send yourself a reminder for that important follow-up phone call in the morning. And before you go to bed, get some things ready for the trip to the family for the holidays, the shopping list, print out the recipe. Good preparation reduces the stress in the moment (and yes you are so much more fun to be around when calm!). Are you a manager, get your team to do the same. With low staffing during the holidays, a good handover to the colleagues who will work through will ensure less of a mess when others return back to work in January.

Everything in Moderation

It is easy to go overboard these days. There is so much food, drinks, focus on gifts (bigger and more expensive than the next one), it is so easy to give in and to live a little….or…well.. live a lot. Too much of anything is never a good idea. Getting drunk at the office party will not do wonders with your working relationships, those extra added pounds from the Christmas pudding tend to stick to the hips quite permanently and your deflated financial funds do not go hand-in-hand with love bought. Take it slow, savor it, enjoy everything to the fullest, but indulge in temptations in moderation. You will thank yourself in January!

Connect

If you do nothing at all for the holiday, try this. Make a new connection, even if it is just one. Whether it is to a new customer, a long lost family member, the lonely neighbor down the street, that colleague across from you at the open plan office whose ambitions scare you a bit. This is the season to connect. Who knows what it will bring: perhaps a great working relationship, a new client, a long lasting friendship or simply a (one-off) cup of coffee well spent. Make a connection today, it will make a huge difference to you and somebody else.

Enjoy

Whatever your background, whatever your circumstances, whatever you believe in or not, whether you are alone or together, this season has something magical. Whether it is the twinkle of the lights in the trees outside in the public park, the smell of snow and cinnamon apples or a loud burst of fireworks at the start of the New Year, there is beauty and joy to be found for everybody as long as you are looking for it. We hope you recognize it and enjoy this holiday season to the fullest extent.

We are coming to the end of the year. This time is another chance, another opportunity for new things to come. May you experience the very best this holiday season and move into January better than ever!

Happy Holidays from the Gropay Team!