Navigating the Holiday Hustle: A Producer’s Guide to Staying Sane
Ah, the holiday season—it’s that time of year filled with festive lights, endless snacks, and... chaos. For me and many other producers, it’s a unique mix of “get it done before the break” energy, a calendar full of holiday parties and events, and the personal chaos of prepping for family celebrations. Balancing work deadlines and personal commitments can feel like juggling live grenades, but with a little planning (and some strategic saying-no), you can get through the season without losing your mind.
Here are a few tips to help you manage the busiest time of the year:
Get Real About Your Priorities
Before the season ramps up, take a moment to write out your priorities—work, family, self-care, and even fun stuff like parties or shopping for gifts. I thought I was pretty good at this but I find that when work and life are super crazy busy, I forget to prioritize. It’s EXTREMELY important to be honest with yourself about what has to be done and what can wait.
For example, that last-minute project that isn’t due until mid-January? It doesn’t need to eat into your Saturday. And let’s be real: Do you need to attend every party or can you skip a few? Prioritizing means acknowledging your limits and being okay with letting a few things slide.
Time Management Is Your Best Friend
Here’s my golden rule: If it’s not on the calendar, it’s not happening.
Batch your tasks: Dedicate blocks of time to specific work. For example, I tend to tackle project feedback from 9 AM to 11 AM, leave the afternoons for client calls, and prep for the following day before I shut down the computer for the night.
Use reminders: Schedule time for personal errands like gift shopping or meal prep. Treat them like any other meeting so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Plan buffer time: Holidays always come with surprises. Leave some wiggle room for last-minute emergencies or even just a few minutes to breathe!
Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself
When you’re running on empty, everything feels harder. Make time to eat real meals, sleep, and move your body—even if it’s just a walk around the block to clear your head. This is definitely something I struggle with but when I do manage to make the time to exercise, or meditate, I feel a thousand times better and more eager to take on the craziness that is my workload. I also often block out my calendar for lunch so that everyone knows I’m unavailable. A girl needs to eat, right?
Recently, I took a much-needed vacation—even though it was right in the middle of a hectic period. Instead of giving in to the temptation to keep working while I was away, I made a point to tell everyone I was going out of town. I declined client meetings, stepped away from emails, and fully committed to focusing on myself and my family.
Life is too short to let work take over every moment. At the end of the day, nothing matters more than your health and mental well-being. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself—and your work—is to take a real break. And because I set a boundary with work and play, I came back to work recharged, focused and most impotantly, excited to dive back into things.
Master the Art of the Strategic "No"
Producers are people-pleasers by nature—we want to make everything work for everyone, all the time. I am so guilty of this. But during the holidays, the best gift you can give yourself is the power of a polite but firm “no.”
For example, recently my week was already packed with meetings, deadlines, and to-do lists, I said no to coffee catch-ups or last-minute client check-ins that could wait until the new year. At work, if a client throws a curveball, I’ll offer realistic solutions instead of overcommitting, like, “We can prioritize X for delivery by the 22nd, but Y will have to be pushed to January.”
In my personal life, I’ve learned to let go of the pressure to do everything. If I’d rather skip the annual cookie exchange and spend a quiet night with a cup of tea, my favorite blanket, and a cheesy holiday rom-com, that’s exactly what I’ll do. Every time you say no to something, you’re permitting yourself to say yes to what truly matters—your sanity, your energy, and your time.
Lean on Your Support System
Whether it’s your team at work, your partner, or your best friend, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Delegating doesn’t make you less capable—it makes you smart.
When it comes to work projects, leaning on your team can be a game-changer. I’ll admit, I have a bad habit of taking on way too much myself and ending up completely stretched thin. But here’s the thing: your team is there to help—you just have to ask.
A perfect example? In my own business, I was drowning in marketing tasks while trying to juggle a pile of more urgent deadlines. Instead of letting it slide (or worse, working myself into the ground), I asked my biz partner (she’s amazing!!) to take over the marketing efforts for a week or so. That small ask freed me up to focus on what truly needed my attention, and everything got done on time.
Trust me, asking for help doesn’t mean you’re failing—it’s how you succeed.
At home, I get the family involved—I delegate dinner prep, laundry, cleaning, or whatever else is piling up. For those of you that have kids, get them to work by having them set the table or sort the laundry, and if someone asks what they can do to help, don’t be shy about giving them a task. You don’t have to do it all yourself—sharing the load keeps things moving and saves your sanity.
Celebrate Your Wins
As you wrap up the year, take a moment to acknowledge everything you’ve accomplished—both at work and in your personal life. Producers often focus on the next task, but it’s important to pause and give yourself credit for all the plates you’ve kept spinning.
The holiday season can feel like a marathon, but it’s also a time to reflect, celebrate, and connect with the people who matter most. With a little planning and a lot of grace (for yourself and others), you can make it through the chaos with your sanity intact
Here’s to surviving (and thriving) this holiday season. Cheers, friends!
