5 Ways to Win the Holidays at Work

Last year, 10% of non-retail workers ended up working on Christmas day, and 44% logged hours over the holidays, according to data from CalendarLabs. Many had to work the holiday because they had heavy workloads or couldn’t schedule around their coworkers. Don’t expect less work in 2024. After two relatively quiet years, most companies expect a return to the hectic period that usually occurs right before the end-of-year holidays. Expect managers to be asking you to do as much as possible.

To improve your chances of having a relaxing few days off at the end of the year—and of looking good in front of the boss—experts recommend taking a few steps.

Expect several crazy weeks.

Experts say that the end-of-year sprint is back in 2024. Plan for a very busy December, with phones and emails dinging right up until Christmas Eve. “This year, no one’s taking their foot off the gas between Thanksgiving and New Year's,” says supply-chain expert Seth Steinberg, a Korn Ferry senior client partner.

Don’t get blindsided by your boss.

Communicate your vacation plans now and ask your manager about deadlines and expectations. “Set boundaries early,” says Deepali Vyas, head of Korn Ferry’s Fintech, Payments, and Crypto practice. That means sharing your time-off plans as soon as you know them, and formally requesting PTO as needed. That way, if coworker conflicts arise, there’s plenty of time to explore work-arounds.

Prioritize key goals.

Review your objectives and deadlines now and get ahead of them. This will keep you on track when holiday commitments pile up alongside your work. “You’ll prevent the end-of-year rush,” says Vyas.

Make time for a little exercise.

December is not the month to make great athletic strides; simply staying active is plenty. “A little bit is better than nothing,” says David Vied, global sector leader for medical devices and diagnostics at Korn Ferry. He's an avid runner who aims for 50% to 75% of his usual exercise in December. That might be simply a walk around the block and hydrating, he says, to avoid tipping into poor sleep.

Know that you can’t do it all.

Especially if your company’s fiscal year ends on December 31^st. “No one ever really pulls off moderation,” says Vied. When work performance or family holiday pressures land, they must be met. Moderate imbalance is just about right. 

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