How Cal Newport Would Conquer Holiday Work Stress
I don’t consider myself someone who has mentors. There are things that I admire about many of the people who have come before me (and those who are currently my peers), so I take those bits and pieces to incorporate into my professional and personal life. But if there were one person I’d want in the role, the person who says, “Jump,” and I ask, “How high?” it’s Cal Newport. I’m reading his latest book, Slow Productivity, and I’ve underlined so much of it that it would have been more efficient to Sharpie out the parts that I didn’t find helpful or insightful.
Cal, as I’d call him if we’d ever met (because we’d be very good friends, I’d make sure of it), is a multiply-published author and advocates for mindful productivity. He offers a unique perspective on managing professional stress for knowledge workers, which we physicians are despite metrics like RVUs, FTEs, and patients seen per day. While I can't claim to know precisely how he'd approach the festive season, here's my take on how his principles could be applied to conquer holiday work stress:
1. Planned Disconnection:
Newport emphasizes the importance of deliberate rest. He'd likely advocate for a pre-planned digital detox during the holidays, setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. This might involve:
Scheduled "shutdown complete" rituals: A consistent end-of-day routine to signal the transition to non-work time. This could involve closing all work-related apps, tidying his workspace, and creating a to-do list for the next workday to clear his mind. Driving home from the hospital in silence, with no podcasts or Taylor Swift, leads to my arriving home wholly disconnected from what happened that shift.
Batching communication: Checking emails and messages only at designated times rather than constantly reacting throughout the day. When my designated email time arrives, I make a game out of it to see if I can get my inbox to zero in less than 30 minutes. Lots of batch deleting happens (and it’s fantastic).
Out-of-office replies that empower: Instead of a generic message, he might craft an auto-reply that clearly states his unavailability and offers alternative contact options for urgent matters. Notably, he’d stay out of his inbox when he’s conveyed that he’s unavailable.
2. Prioritize Deep Work Before the Holidays:
Knowing the holidays can disrupt routines, Newport might front-load his most demanding work tasks in the weeks leading up to the break. This would involve:
Time-blocking deep work sessions: Scheduling dedicated, distraction-free periods for focused work on critical projects. And limit yourself to one or two crucial projects for these last few weeks of 2024: it’ll feel much better to get one or two things done entirely than to make a little progress on everything but get nothing wholly wrapped up. Do you actually need to do more than one or two things before the holidays? Unless it’s a project with a hard deadline, that urgency you’re feeling is self-imposed and unproductive.
Identifying shallow work: Delegating or eliminating nonessential tasks to free up time and mental energy for deep work.
3. Embrace Slow Productivity:
Newport challenges the cult of busyness, advocating for a more intentional and less frantic approach to work. During the holidays, this might translate to:
Focusing on high-value activities: Instead of trying to do everything, he'd prioritize the most impactful tasks. Bringing the database up to date on a multi-year research project? That won’t move the needle on the trajectory of your career. Getting your promotion dossier submitted? That will.
Saying "no" strategically: Declining extra commitments or requests that don't align with his priorities. If you don’t want the project but don’t want to say “no” out of fear that “it might look bad,” consider the request while looking at your calendar and see when you might be able to get it done: if you tell the person making the request that you can tackle it in April 2025, they’ll probably find somebody else for the job.
Mindful downtime: Engaging in activities that promote relaxation and restoration, such as reading, spending time in nature, or pursuing hobbies. When did you last drive around your neighborhood (or the “rich” neighborhood in your town) to look at holiday lights?
4. Cultivate a Deep Life:
Newport's philosophy extends beyond work, emphasizing the importance of a fulfilling life outside of the office. He'd likely approach the holidays with intention, focusing on:
Meaningful connections: Prioritizing quality time with loved ones and engaging in activities that bring joy and connection. This is the literal time of year for meaningful connections. Make them now; we never know when the next pandemic will strike or when one of the people most important to us will be gone.
Digital minimalism: Limiting screen time and social media use to be more present in the moment. Leave your phone in the other room when you’re with your family. If you must have it on you, turn it on to “Do Not Disturb.”
Rest and recharge: Using the holiday break to unwind and return to work truly refreshed and re-energized. Nothing feels worse than returning to work after time away and wishing you had more time away: it’s unfair to you and the people you just spent your holidays with.
Cal and I, we’d have a lot to talk about. I’d overstay my welcome at whatever cup of coffee we’d have. The beauty of the way (I think) he’d spend these last weeks before the holidays is that you don’t have to do all the things above to opt out of the end-of-the-year rush; one or two of them could make a serious dent in your work stress. More time for driving around to see holiday lights 🎄🕎🧑🏼🎄