How to Find Work-Life Balance During the Holidays
Where did the year go? That’s what many of us may find ourselves asking right now. As surreal as it may seem, the end of 2025 is just around the corner.
Of course, with the close of the year comes all the fun of the holiday season. Soon enough, festive decorations will line the streets, gatherings will fill our calendars and carols will be ringing over the speakers in every grocery and department store. Your schedule may already be stacking up with personal obligations and travel plans, not to mention the usual responsibilities at work and planning for 2026.
During the whirlwind of the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to prioritize your family, well-being and mental health. How can you set healthy boundaries around your personal time while still finishing the year strong at work? Here are five tips.
1. Make time to move your body.
Staying active has all kinds of health benefits — from boosting your mood to easing stress — and it can be one of the most grounding habits you keep during a busy season. Find the time of day that naturally fits your rhythm, then choose a routine you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s weightlifting, yoga, running or dance.
When you intentionally block this time on your calendar, it becomes a non-negotiable moment just for you. Not only will it help you navigate holiday demands with more energy and clarity, but you’ll also head into the new year with healthy habits already in motion.
Here at Cox, we have several benefits designed to support your fitness and overall well-being, including:
- Hybrid work options and flexible work schedules
- State-of-the-art fitness centers on our campuses
- Free access to FitnessOnDemand (a virtual exercise app)
- Healthy lifestyle coaching
- Additional digital fitness and nutrition resources
2. Take a midday break
On particularly busy days, it can be tempting to skip a real lunch break; maybe you inhale a cold, prepackaged salad at your desk while you catch up on emails. But did you know that taking a true midday break may actually help your productivity, as well as your mood and overall well-being?
According to research from Slack’s Workforce Index survey, employees who regularly take breaks report 13% higher productivity throughout the day. They also score 62% higher on work-life balance, show a 43% greater ability to manage work-related stress and feel 43% more satisfied in their roles. Meanwhile, workers who don’t take breaks are 1.7x more likely to experience burnout.
Stepping away from your computer might not sound like an earth-shattering productivity hack, but think about the benefits of closing your laptop for an hour. It can give your brain time to rest and reset. It can help you move your body, spark creative thinking, lift your mood or give you time to connect with a coworker or friend (a ritual many of our in-person employees value here at Cox!). And during the holiday season, it can offer a helpful pocket of flexibility on an otherwise packed day.
3. Communicate your boundaries clearly.
During the holiday season, schedules get complicated, priorities shift quickly, and it’s easy to feel pulled in multiple directions. Clear communication can make all the difference. Be upfront with your team about your availability, deadlines and workload as the year winds down. Setting expectations early helps prevent last-minute stress for everyone and also gives your colleagues the clarity they need to plan their own work.
4. Create a daily wind-down ritual.
When work is busy, it’s harder than ever to “turn off” at the end of the day. A simple wind-down ritual can help you transition out of work mode with intention. Maybe it’s jotting down your top priorities for tomorrow, turning off notifications at a set time or taking a quick walk before shifting into evening plans. Even just a few minutes of a consistent habit can signal to your brain that the workday is done.
5. Let go of the illusion of perfection (and completed to-do lists).
You may have heard the saying: “You can’t draw water from an empty well.” It’s an especially meaningful reminder during seasons when both work and life feel especially full.
The fact is, you simply may not be able to do it all — and that’s more than okay.
This time of year is all about choices. One of the most important is deciding which tasks genuinely need your attention before year-end, and which can wait until after the holidays. Try prioritizing your to-do list by both the level of importance and effort. This helps you focus on what truly matters and avoid spreading yourself too thin.
Give yourself (and those around you) plenty of grace as we close out 2025. Take a moment to appreciate everything you’ve accomplished and allow yourself to celebrate the season with the people who matter most. Your future self will be grateful that you made space to rest, recharge and start the new year with renewed energy.
Ready to find better work-life balance? Explore job openings here, and join the Cox Talent Community here!
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