There's a lot of talk about the Christmas season being a difficult time for people to maintain motivation at work. This is partly because they're eagerly anticipating their time off, and partly because they're feeling pressure to finish as many tasks as possible before hand so that they can enjoy the holiday break.

To help, we’ve put together 7 tips to keep you motivated at work during the holiday season:

1. Find a Purpose

The holiday season can be a tough time to stay motivated at work. With all the parties, shopping, and family gatherings, it's easy to get side-tracked. But there are a few things you can do to stay focused and keep your motivation high.

First, find a purpose for your work. What is it that you're trying to accomplish? What difference are you making in your job? When you have a clear purpose, it's easier to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Find meaning in your work. Remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing, whether it's providing for your family or making a difference in your community. Keep your eyes on the prize so you don't get bogged down by the day-to-day tasks.

2. Maintain Good Relationships

The holiday season is a hectic time for many people. Between work, family, and social obligations, it can be difficult to find the time or energy to maintain your motivation. Seek out social support. Spend time with friends and loved ones who will help you stay motivated and positive. Avoid negative people who will only bring you down.

Find an accountability partner. Sometimes it helps to have someone else to keep you motivated and accountable. Find someone who is also working towards similar goals and check in with each other regularly.

3. Ensure Enough Sleep

Make sure to set aside time for yourself to wind down before bed. This means no work in the bedroom! Turn off all electronics at least 30 minutes before sleep and try reading or doing relaxation exercises.

Second, establish a regular sleep schedule as much as possible and stick to it. It’s tempting to stay up late when there’s so much going on, but getting enough rest is crucial for maintaining focus and energy levels.

Finally, if you find yourself struggling to keep up with work or feeling overwhelmed, take a break! Step away from your desk for a few minutes, go for a walk, or do something completely unrelated to work. This will help clear your head and give you the boost of energy you need to keep going.

4. Take Breaks

Take a break! It's important to take some time for yourself during the holidays, even if it's just a few minutes here and there. Step away from your work and take a breather. Maybe go for a walk or listen to some festive music.

Reward yourself! Give yourself small rewards along the way as you accomplish your goals. This will help keep you motivated and focused on what you're trying to achieve.

5. Keep Learning

As the year ends, many of us are yearning for the Christmas and New Year break. A time to reflect, recoup, and look forward towards the year ahead. During this period when most of us get time away from work or university, we all intend to put this time off to good use – but it’s not always easy.

Set a learning goal. Take time to look at what you want to achieve for yourself over the break. It could be working on that online training course you didn’t get to in December, learning to paint, or perfecting how to ask for a coffee and croissant in French.

Your learning goal is specific to you. Keep it simple and keep it fun. Write your goal out stick it somewhere you can see it, so each day you’re reminded of what you’re working towards.

6. Take Responsibility for Impulsivity

The holidays can be a difficult time to maintain motivation while working. There are a number of things that can contribute to this, including the increased social and family obligations that come with the season. It can be easy to let work slide during this time, but it's important to try and stay on track. One way to do this is to take responsibility for your own impulsivity.

If you find yourself getting easily side-tracked or making careless mistakes, take a step back and re-evaluate your priorities. It's okay to take a break from work if you need it, but make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Don't use the holiday season as an excuse to slack off, but instead use it as motivation to stay on track and get your work done.

7. Praise Your Staff and Give Recognition

The holidays can be a hectic and stressful time for many people, which can make it difficult to maintain motivation at work. However, there are some things you can do to help keep your staff motivated during this busy season.

One way to keep your staff motivated is to praise them and give them recognition for their hard work. This can be something as simple as sending them a handwritten note or taking the time to thank them publicly for their efforts. Seeing that their hard work is appreciated can be a big motivator for employees.

Another way to maintain motivation during the holiday season is to offer incentives for meeting goals or completing tasks. This could be something like offering a bonus or gift card for employees who meet certain targets. Having something to work towards can help motivate employees to stay focused and productive during this busy time.

Finally, try to create a positive and fun working environment during the holidays. This could involve playing festive music in the office, decorating the workspace, or organizing holiday-themed team-building activities. Making work feel like a fun place to be can help boost employee morale and motivation levels during this hectic time of year.