Chapter 96: Keep Steady

How AI Can Help You Stay Balanced During the Holiday Rush

Happy Workflow Wednesday, friends!

The holidays are one of the most joyful—and busiest—times of the year.

Between work deadlines, family gatherings, and holiday shopping, it’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions. Add the pressure to make everything perfect, and “holiday harmony” starts to sound like a distant dream. But here’s the thing: achieving balance doesn’t have to mean doing it all.

With the help of AI, you can streamline tasks, make smarter decisions about your time, and create space for what really matters.

JUST ADD EVEN MORE STUFF TO DO​
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The holiday season is a balancing act. On one hand, work doesn’t stop just because it’s December. On the other, family traditions, social events, and personal goals ramp up to a whole new level. Trying to do it all often leads to burnout, leaving you exhausted instead of enjoying the festivities. AI can step in as a supportive partner, handling tedious tasks, simplifying decisions, and giving you back the bandwidth to focus on both work and life. The result? A more harmonious holiday season where you can be productive without sacrificing joy.

TRUE STORY

Meet my ex-colleague Emma, a project manager with a packed December. Between prepping for her team’s year-end review and organizing her family’s holiday dinner, she felt overwhelmed. Emma turned to AI to help her prioritize and plan. She used an AI calendar assistant to schedule deep work sessions during her most productive hours and block time for holiday shopping. For meal prep, she relied on an AI recipe planner to create a festive menu based on her family’s preferences. By automating routine tasks, Emma struck a balance between work and life, wrapping up her year with both professional and personal wins.

TOOLS YOU CAN USE

1. ​Clockwise: Smart Scheduling: Use Clockwise to optimize your calendar, block focus time, and create space for personal commitments. Its AI ensures your schedule works for you, not the other way around.
2. Notion AI: Holiday Task Organization: Notion AI can help you organize work deadlines, shopping lists, and family plans in one place, making it easier to juggle everything during the holidays.
3. ​Planoly: Social Media Planning: Planoly’s AI helps you schedule holiday posts and campaigns for your business or personal brand, freeing up your time for more meaningful tasks.
4. ​Tasty: Festive Meal Planning: Use Tasty’s AI-powered recipe suggestions to plan holiday meals that suit everyone’s tastes. From appetizers to desserts, it’s got you covered.
5. ​Google Assistant: Voice-Activated Productivity: Let Google Assistant handle reminders, shopping lists, and even gift ideas so you can stay organized on the go.

LET'S AI CHAT

You: "I’ve got a huge project deadline at work, but my family expects me to help with all the holiday prep. I feel like I’m failing at both. Can AI really help with this?"

AI: "Absolutely! Balancing work and personal commitments during the holidays is tough, but AI can help you prioritize and manage your time effectively. Let’s focus on your work deadline first. What’s the biggest challenge—managing the project tasks or finding time to work on them?"

You: "Definitely finding the time. Every time I sit down to focus, I get pulled away for something else, whether it’s family-related or just random interruptions."

AI: "That’s frustrating, but we can work with it. The key here is protecting your deep work time. AI scheduling tools can help you block off dedicated focus periods during your most productive hours—when are you typically at your best?"

You: "Usually in the mornings, but that’s also when a lot of family stuff comes up, like shopping trips or errands."

AI: "Got it. Let’s create a compromise. Use your mornings for focused work on high-priority tasks and set clear boundaries with your family about that time. For errands and holiday prep, AI can help you batch those tasks into the afternoon or evening. Does that feel more manageable?"

You: "It does, but what about interruptions? I feel guilty saying no when my family asks for help."

AI: "Boundaries can be hard, especially during the holidays, but they’re essential for balance. You can explain to your family that mornings are your ‘work zone,’ and offer specific times later in the day to help with holiday tasks. Meanwhile, AI can send reminders or even automate some of your work tasks, so you get more done in less time. Would that help?"

You: "I think so. I just need to stay consistent with it."

AI: "Exactly! With focus blocks for work and designated time for family, you can meet your deadlines without feeling guilty. Plus, you’ll be more present for holiday activities when you’re not stressing about unfinished work. Ready to give it a try?"

You: "Yeah, let’s do it. I think this plan could actually work."

YOU CAN DO IT​
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Achieving work-life harmony around the holidays may feel like a challenge, but it’s far from impossible. With AI tools you can streamline your schedule, organize tasks, and stay flexible as plans evolve. As we explored in the roleplay, AI allows you to focus on what truly matters—whether that’s finishing work projects or making memories with loved ones. Ready to enjoy a more balanced holiday season? Let AI help.

TELL ME ABOUT UT
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What are your biggest challenges during the holidays?

Have you tried using AI to simplify your life? Let me know - my emails below.

Your feedback not only helps us improve but could inspire my next Workflow Wednesday topic.

I want to hear from you!

UNBELIEVABLE

BTW, can you believe that I finally get some time off?

Next Wednesday is Christmas and the Wednesday after is New Years!

After all of this time, I'm getting two weeks off in a row!

Ben and Leo are always getting Monday or Friday, but now its MY TURN - he he.

See you in 2025!

Nikola Harper, Editor, Workflow Wednesdays, 10xYOU​

PS: You can always email me directly at nik@10xyou.us​

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