Simplify Your Holidays With Remote Work 11 Dos and Donts featured image

Simplify Your Holidays With Remote Work: 11 Do’s and Don’ts

The holidays are a time for joy, connection, and celebration — but they can also bring stress and overwhelm. Balancing work and personal life becomes even trickier when you’re juggling holiday plans, family gatherings, and year-end deadlines. That’s where remote work can be a game-changer. By working from home, you can create a schedule that suits your holiday needs, reduce commuting time, and focus on what matters most. We’re going to show you how to simplify your holidays with remote work by sharing 11 essential do’s and don’ts to help you stay productive, stress-free, and fully present for the season. Let’s get started!

The Do’s to Simplify Your Holidays With Remote Work

1. Do Be More Productive

With the extra distractions that the holidays bring, remaining productive is a struggle. However, working remotely even part of the time can boost your productivity. Numerous research studies consistently show increases in productivity among remote workers. These results hold true whether they are based on self-reporting or objective outcomes.

Why are remote workers more productive? Probably due to a combination of factors that include:

  • Fewer distractions
  • Customized schedules
  • Healthier habits
  • Less stressful environment

Tip: Most remote workers benefit from carving out a dedicated workspace, whether it’s the spare room or a converted closet. Having a place where you can contain your work-related materials and get stuff done is integral to streamlining your work from home job.

2. Do Improve Your Work-Life Balance

The holidays are a stressful time to an exponential degree. One study found that 66% of employees reported additional stress at work during the holidays. Over 70% of those stressed workers indicated that balancing extra demands at home was the major cause. Whether you need to plan extra shopping trips or an afternoon baking session with the kids, you can simplify your holidays with remote work. Use your flexible schedule to adjust and modify your calendar items as necessary.

Tip: Make up the time by scheduling a couple of early morning or evening work sessions. However, because remote workers tend to overcompensate, make sure to only make up the time you missed!

3. Do Make Healthy Choices

Take advantage of working from home over the holidays to limit your access to the treats and candy that so often find their way into the office. Instead, use your kitchen to make yourself healthy meals and snacks throughout the day.

Also, get out for fresh air and exercise during the day. You may not want to visit the gym right now, but studies show that walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy.

Tip: Cooking for yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Simplify mealtime by searching the internet for five-ingredient recipes or check out one of the many cooking sites that feature five-ingredient holiday recipes too!

4. Do Establish a Morning Routine

Simplify your holidays with remote work by creating a new morning routine. Having a morning routine that wakes you up and prepares you for your day can be a big help when you need to accommodate additional activities during the holidays.

Without the rush to get into the office on time, you’re free to recreate your mornings. Incorporate activities that reduce stress, improve your health, and stoke your creativity.

Tip: Don’t complicate your morning routine. Start with these three proven habits to get your mornings on track:

  1. Implement a no-snooze rule on the alarm clock.
  2. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up.
  3. Get outside for five minutes of natural light and fresh air as soon as possible.

5. Do Take Fewer Trips in Holiday Traffic

Holiday crowds and traffic are a hassle. Thankfully, working remotely allows you to skip stressful morning and afternoon commutes. You can also avoid adverse weather conditions like snowstorms!

In addition to robbing us of almost 200 hours a year on average, traffic jams waste almost three billion gallons of gas and account for an extra 26 million tons of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere every year. Research also estimates that if 50 million Americans worked remotely half the time, almost 95,000 traffic related injuries and deaths would be prevented.

Tip: Use the flexibility in your schedule to reduce the number of trips you need to make around the busiest days. Also, plan the trips you have to make during the quieter hours of mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

6. Do Plan Your Holiday Travel During Off-Peak Times and Days

Remote work gives you unmatched flexibility when it comes to planning your travel. Take advantage of this by booking flights during off-peak days and times to avoid the busiest travel crowds. You’ll not only enjoy a smoother travel experience but might also score better prices on flights and accommodations.

Tip: When searching for flights, make sure to check the prices a day or two on either side of your ideal flying days to secure the most cost-effective itinerary. Many airlines offer a monthly rate calendar so you can quickly find the best deals. And if you’re an avid traveler or you just want to escape the weather, make sure to check out Scott’s Cheap Flights, which compiles mistake fares and steep discounts.

Remote Work Holiday Don’ts

7. Don’t Use Working From Home as an Excuse to Avoid the Holidays

Working from home can sometimes feel isolating, especially during the holidays. Combined with the usual seasonal blues, it might make you tempted to skip the celebrations altogether. Don’t give in to that urge! Instead, look for meaningful ways to connect with family and friends, even if you can’t be together in person. Reach out to your support system, plan festive virtual activities, or create new traditions that bring you joy. The holidays are a time to recharge and share moments with loved ones — don’t let remote work keep you from that.

Tip: Studies show that helping others is a great way to feel better yourself. So, finding volunteer opportunities or other ways to give back this year is a guaranteed method to improve your mental health.

8. Don’t Run Too Many Extra Errands for Friends and Family

Anyone who has worked remotely knows the pressure to make yourself available for family and friends during the day. Whether it’s a quick visit or requests to run additional errands, these extra demands can impact both work and family time.

While you want to help out, these requests can increase during the holiday season causing further complications. Simplify your holidays with remote work by updating your family and friends about availability and if you need to cut back during the holidays to get everything done.

Tip: Avoid problems by proactively setting boundaries. Schedule specific times during your day or week to accommodate the requests of friends and family. The trick is sticking to your schedule!

9. Don’t Add More Events to the Calendar

Simplify your holiday plans by limiting the number of events on your calendar. The extra time and flexible hours you enjoy by working remotely should not immediately be rescheduled. Instead, use that time to relax and do the things you love to do.

Scheduling fewer activities means you have more time for what’s important to you and your family. Try to prioritize the events and appointments you schedule and identify anything that could be put off or rescheduled until the new year.

Tip: If there is a holiday event that you would rather avoid, it’s okay to say no. Minimize any hurt feelings by responding promptly and politely with your refusal and suggest an alternative time to get together.

10. Don’t Add More Shopping

Remote work may provide more time for both in-person and online holiday shopping, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy more stuff. Many people are experiencing unemployment or other financial hardships may be looking for ways to cut back. Simplify your holidays with remote work by being more intentional in your gift-giving.

Take time to contemplate what gifts will truly add value to the recipient’s life. Instead of a sweater, perhaps your husband would prefer a special date night. Or maybe the kids would love a family sledding trip more than a new video game (in the long run anyway).

Tip: You can save even more time and money if you use the price tracking and deal-finding websites and apps available. Find one that works for you and let it do all the hard shopping work while you take care of business.

11. Don’t Increase Your Workload

If you’re getting the hang of your work at home productivity and think that you can take on another project or two over the holidays — don’t do it! Prioritize your peace of mind this holiday season and use the extra time that your productivity affords to spend with people you love. It’s been a difficult year and as much as you may want to show your employer how dedicated you are, your family needs attention, too.

Simplifying your holidays this year means spending quality time with your friends and family, whether that’s virtually or in person.

Tip: Just like saying no to events you don’t want to attend is okay, saying no to requests to complete extra work over the holidays is fine as well. Just be timely, be polite, and always suggest an alternative time.

Make the Holidays Work for You

The holidays don’t have to be stressful, even when your work responsibilities don’t take a holiday break. By following these 11 do’s and don’ts, you can strike the perfect balance between staying productive and enjoying the season. Remote work gives you the flexibility to adjust your schedule, set boundaries, and make time for what matters most.

Remember, the key to a joyful holiday season is planning ahead and being kind to yourself. Simplify your holidays with remote work by creating space for both your personal and professional goals. When you take control of your time, the holidays become less about stress and more about celebrating the moments that count.

Do you have any tips to simplify the holidays with remote work? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!



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