The other day, I was chatting with one of my valued colleagues, and she hit the nail on the head: “Why does everyone want it done now?”
It’s true, isn’t it? December rolls around, and suddenly the world goes into full-blown panic mode. Deadlines that haven’t moved all year are now magically urgent. Reports, proposals, meetings—you name it—“let’s get it done before Christmas!”
Now, I love the festive season as much as the next person, but I’ve got to ask: what exactly happens at midnight on December 25th? Does Santa sprinkle business-ending dust over unfinished work? Do the servers shut down until January? Spoiler alert: nothing actually happens.
Let’s be honest—this is all about us. Deep down, we’re desperate for a proper break. You know, a chance to finally switch off, guilt-free, with a mince pie in one hand and a glass of something bubbly in the other.
Try getting your brick paving fixed or a gardener to turn up in December. You’ll be met with the same response: “Fully booked until the New Year, mate!” Suddenly, even the lawn becomes an emergency because it must look pristine before Christmas Day. It’s as if a single stray weed might offend Uncle Bob and ruin the entire day.
So what do we do? We scramble. We convince ourselves that clearing the decks will somehow make Christmas dinner taste better. It’s the business version of tidying the entire house before guests arrive: unnecessary and exhausting, but it feels productive.
While half the team is barking orders like “ASAP!”, the other half has mentally checked out. They’re googling “how to cook a ham for 12 people” or planning the fastest escape route to the beach. I’m not judging—I’ve done it too.
But let’s be real: the world doesn’t grind to a halt if something waits until January. That report? It’ll still be there. That project? It won’t self-destruct.
Instead of sprinting into the holidays like overworked reindeer, maybe it’s time for a little prioritisation. If something wasn’t urgent in August, do we really need to break our necks finishing it now? Sometimes, “it can wait” is the healthiest thing we can say.
So, here’s my advice as we head into the chaos of December:
Take a breath. Tackle what really matters. And don’t let the “Christmas Crunch” trick you into thinking the sky will fall if everything’s not ticked off.
Enjoy the break. Switch off properly. And if someone still insists that something must be done before Santa lands, well…maybe they can just pop it in his sleigh.
Just remember “ Clean your desk”
