The Recommendation Room

As we enter the Friday before the Christmas holiday, I am finding that nothing in my corporate world has slowed down. Meetings are stacking up, workloads are at an all time high, and the pace feels relentless. Having spent much of my career working toward a December 31st close, I am no stranger to busy Decembers, but the intensity this year feels different. The sheer aggression of work right before the holiday has reached a new level.

This past week was filled with back to back client meetings and internal calls, and I could feel the burnout creeping in more than usual. In a world where everyone is wearing multiple hats and working hard to solidify their place, the undercurrent of uncertainty, including pending layoffs and shifting priorities, has left many people on edge.

In the midst of this chaos, I want to offer a gentle reminder. You cannot be good at what you do if you are not taking care of yourself.

Throughout the day, I often have to pause, put my Teams status on Do Not Disturb, step away, and give myself a moment of rest. Even short breaks make a difference. A quick workout, a walk, or simply shifting my focus to something I enjoy can completely change the trajectory of the rest of my day.

I have also started implementing a brief daily check in each morning. As I map out my to do list and outline meetings and priorities, I take a few moments to focus on gratitude. What am I excited about this week. What worked well recently. What might I want to do differently. That small moment of reflection helps set the tone for the day ahead.

When things feel overwhelming, I fall back on those foundational habits. Giving yourself a bit of time to regroup before diving into the day is not a luxury. It is essential.

So I will leave you with this.

How are you handling this final week before the holiday.

Do you feel in the spirit, or does this year feel different.

What can you do to reclaim a sense of peace, and what might you need to leave behind.