Hey friend,
We’re in an awkward time of the year right now.
Some folks are in absolute GO GO GO mode to wrap everything up before EOY and the other half is already in their red pajamas watching Friends reruns all day.
I am unfortunately in… group 1. My ass has been grinding this week to finish the draft for my first book!
What I am learning about this process is that most deadlines are made up until they aren’t.
For example, the deadline to send a check-in email to a client of yours before you go on vacation. Probably made up.
The deadline you gave yourself to achieve a certain level of dolla dolla bills saved in your high yield savings account. Also made up.
BUT the deadline for my ass to finish this draft by today (as I procrastinate by writing this Substack).
NOT made up because if I don’t submit by today, it may move the publication date by another year! Yep, that’s traditional publishing for ya.
So as you go through this holiday season and you feel that you cannot enjoy your holiday because you are glued to your phone reading emails, just know that most of the “urgency” is made up.
Here are 4 ways to set boundaries this week so you can actually disconnect:
1. Set the “Hard Stop” (And Respect It)
Consistency is key. If you answer emails at 9 PM tonight, you teach your team that you are available at 9 PM tomorrow.
The Fix: Set a specific “End of Year” routine. Maybe you log off at 4 PM sharp this week. Use your calendar to block out “Focus Time” so people know not to book you.
If you don’t respect your own time, no one else will.
2. Learn To Say “No” (Without Being Rude)
It is tempting to say “yes” to everything to look like a team player before reviews. But overfilling your plate now guarantees burnout in January.
Say: “Thank you for thinking of me for this, but I won’t be able to take this on right now with my current end-of-year deliverables.”
Start small. You don’t need to overexplain. A clear “No” is better than a resentment-filled “Yes.”
3. Stop the “Martyr” Mindset
Sadly, 55% of employees report being burned out, according to the 2025 Eagle Hill Consulting Workforce Burnout Survey.
Do not let yourself become a statistic just to impress a boss who is probably already on vacation. If you feel overburdened, communicate it. Your team isn’t asking you to do things to drown you.
They often just don’t know what’s on your plate. Hop on a call, prioritize the must-haves, and push the nice-to-haves to 2026.
4. Actually TAKE the Vacation
Pew Research Center found that 46% of U.S. employees take less time off than they are offered. Don’t leave money (or sanity) on the table.
When you log off for the holidays, log off. Delete the apps if you have to. Avoid the “just checking in” mentality. Boundaries are not barriers. Think of them as bridges to a healthier life.
The Takeaway
So reminder as we head into the holidays:
Your worth isn’t measured by more $$$ and fancy job titles or how “productive” you look between December 19 and January 1.
Your career is a marathon, not a sprint against your network or team members or your inbox. You worked hard this year and THAT IS ENOUGH to celebrate.
Rest up, eat the good food, but ignore the made up deadlines.
It’s a big year ahead of you!
And if you’re starting fresh in the new year, our Workhap team is hosting a free job search bootcamp on January 7 & 8 and you are invited to join us.
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Always rooting for you!
✅ If you want to master the holiday party small talk
Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional or fake. If you are going to holiday mixers, use these tactics to make genuine connections that actually help your career later.
✅ If you are worried about the gap in your resume
Between jobs right now? It’s okay. There are specific roles you can target that keep the cash flowing and the resume growing while you hunt for the “Dream Job.”
✅ If you feel like your hard work is going unnoticed
You’re doing the work, but are you getting the credit? If you want 2026 to be the year you get recognized, you need to understand the “Likability” factor.
[Read: 5 Reasons Why Likability Is the Secret to Your Career]
Ho ho ho, Santa Sho got you some gifts for the holidays! We are doing a 5-part email series with freebies until Christmas, where you can download our best job-search kits for FREE! Don’t forget to also subscribe to our email list here to claim your gifts.
If you need career-related advice or got some stories to share, send them here or email them to: podcast@workhap.com.
For Career Tips and Work Happiness related contents, follow me on social media:
Sho Dewan in LinkedIn and @workhap in Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, and YoutubeIn your job hunt era? Here to help you land your dream job, friend! Check out free resources here to help you on your next interviews.
Got a career Q that you want to me to answer? 🤔
I’m starting a quick Q&A series where I answer real questions every other week.Ask me about job stuff, interviews, resumes, awkward convos w/ your manager…
I’ll help you figure all of that out!
Just drop a (3–5 sentences) comment or DM me your situation and how I can help.
If you want it anon, just say so. Let’s get into the good stuff.
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