Working Remotely During the Holidays: How to Get Things Done, Avoid Burnout, and Keep Time for Yourself

While some people enjoy official holidays and long family dinners, others find themselves glued to chats, guarding deadlines, and feeling guilty for wanting a break.

This article explores how to maintain a healthy balance — exactly as the title suggests: get your work done, avoid burnout, and leave time to celebrate so you don’t miss the joy of the season.

How to Handle Work Tasks During the Holidays

During the holidays, the goal isn’t to work more — it’s to work smarter. Time is especially valuable at this time of year: you want to stay productive without losing the festive spirit.

Instead of building an endless to-do list or sticking to a rigid schedule, rely on a few simple principles. They’ll help you keep your projects under control while still leaving space for rest and family moments.

Below are five techniques you can use as a ready-made system or mix and match to fit your routine.

1. Identify 2–3 Key Tasks

Anything that doesn’t directly affect short-term results should be considered secondary. During the holidays, spreading yourself too thin is a common trap — trying to finish everything “so you can rest later.”

There’s rarely enough time, and distractions multiply. So make a complete list of tasks, then highlight two or three truly critical ones — the kind where failure is not an option. The rest can be postponed, broken into small steps, or delegated if possible.

2. Keep a Light Schedule

Short work sessions of 2–3 hours with breaks are ideal — for both regular remote work and holiday weeks. December days are already filled with rituals, errands, and family plans, so marathon work sessions are ineffective.

Try to schedule one or two work windows per day (for example, 9:00–12:00 and 16:00–18:00). Between those blocks, you’ll have enough time to enjoy the holiday — take a walk, sled with kids, or savor festive treats.

Use a timer to clearly separate work from rest, and stop when it rings — even if you’re “in the zone.” It’s better to come back later than ruin a family evening by overworking.

3. Follow the Rule of Minimum Viable Result

Perfectionism can be productive on regular days but becomes a trap during the holidays — it consumes time and energy that should go toward rest.

The truth is, most managers don’t expect record-breaking results during this period, and “good enough” really is enough. Once you’ve chosen your top priorities, decide what the minimum acceptable result is for each — the level of completion that makes a task officially done.

It’s like applying the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) principle from business: not perfect, but sufficient to function.

4. Try the Pomodoro Technique

One of the most popular time-management systems divides work into short intervals — 25 minutes of focused effort followed by 5 minutes of rest.

These “Pomodoro” cycles help sustain attention and prevent fatigue. You can use any timer — a phone app or a cute kitchen timer shaped like a tomato.

The key is not to get distracted during the work phase. The break afterward will feel like a reward and keep you from spending your entire evening in front of your laptop.

5. Plan by the Week, Not by the Day

On regular workweeks, it’s easy to map out tasks by the hour. But during the holidays, schedules shift constantly — spontaneous plans, visitors, and last-minute errands happen.

So instead of detailed daily planning, make a weekly plan. It gives flexibility: you’ll still see which priorities must be completed during the break, but you can choose specific times spontaneously as your plans evolve.

How to Avoid Burnout

Once you’ve found your rhythm and set priorities, don’t forget to look inward — at your mental state, emotions, and body.

Limit Screen Time

Constant availability keeps your brain in alert mode. Even without notifications, you keep checking messages “just in case.”

This turns rest hours into half-work time — you may step away from your laptop physically but stay mentally online.

To separate work from personal life:

• Set your status in messengers.
• Turn on an out-of-office email reply.
• Silence notifications.

Messages will still arrive, but they won’t interrupt you. This helps you truly relax and lets your loved ones feel that you’re with them — not just your screen.

Reward Yourself With Rituals

End your workday with something that signals “it’s over.” A small, sensory ritual helps the body and mind switch modes.

Try a cozy Christmas tradition — maybe cliché, but effective: a cup of cocoa with gingerbread and a movie,
a ten-minute evening stroll through twinkling streets,
or a quick sled ride down an icy hill.

Care for Your Body

Your mind and body are more connected than you think. Long hours of sitting and staring at a screen cause physical tension, which turns into irritability and exhaustion.

Every 40 minutes, take short breaks:

• Do breathing exercises.
• Stretch your shoulders and neck.
• Roll out your back or legs with a foam roller.
• Rest your eyes for a minute away from the screen.

These micro-pauses prevent physical fatigue from becoming emotional burnout.

Learn to Say “No” to Extra Work

Working during the holidays often feels like an endless emergency — new requests appear out of nowhere. Boundaries blur, and colleagues assume that if you’re working, you’re available anytime.

Saying “no” isn’t rude — it’s a way to protect your time and keep quality high. Prepare a polite response in advance so you don’t improvise under pressure.

Time-Saving Life Hacks to Protect Your “Me” Time

• Plan rest like work. Schedule small joys — even a coffee break or holiday walk deserves a calendar slot. What’s written down exists.
• Separate spaces. Visual cues help your brain switch contexts faster. Work at a desk, then change lighting, swap your laptop for a candle, or change clothes when you’re done.
• Match your rhythm. If you’re a morning person, finish focus work before noon. Night owls can start after dark when the house quiets down.
• Delegate and simplify. It’s better to do a smaller version of a task or pass it on than to sabotage the team plan. Automate where possible — and use tools that save time.

For instance, organizing a Secret Santa exchange between colleagues can be effortless with MySanta.

Manual setup can be chaotic, especially if one person handles everything. MySanta takes care of the draw, exclusions, and management automatically — freeing up your time while keeping the festive mood alive at work.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Conclusion

The best holiday strategy is about short, focused work sessions and equally intentional rest.

This balance helps you meet deadlines, protect your well-being, and genuinely enjoy the festive atmosphere. With clear boundaries and mindful scheduling, you’ll greet the New Year relaxed, accomplished, and ready for what comes next.