Stay Organized

It seems like a given, but staying organized is paramount. Make lists or use a website, like Trello, to manage these lists. It may seem like setting the lists aside will save time, but stick with them; In the long run they will make your life much easier. Be thorough and make sure you are checking items off as you go. Knowing what needs to be done, what you want to accomplish that day, and how long the project will take can help you plan your workflow. Meet with your coworkers and make sure everyone knows their role. Once someone is finished with their piece of the puzzle, communicate how they can help check off someone else’s to-do list. Staying organized and communicating will do wonders for you and your team.

Stay Late

Your to-do list should never be so long you have to work late hours every night, but sometimes setting part of an evening aside to work ahead on projects and take care of busy-work will make all the difference during silly season. If your work is piling up, set aside an hour or two a week after normal business hours and get those items knocked out. If you take care of projects while you’re on a roll, they don’t get lost in the shuffle of the season. Additionally, your dedication to your responsibilities will show your clients your company cares about giving them the best product possible.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, make sure you are taking care of yourself during a busy work schedule. It’s easy to work through your lunch break or to eat unhealthy when you’re drowning in work, but it is incredibly important to make sure you are doing everything you can to take care of yourself. Take your full lunch break and make sure you’re eating something healthy. Take a short break during the day to recoup energy. Go for a walk, eat a healthy snack, talk about Game of Thrones with a coworker who is also on a break. Anything to revamp your creativity and keep your sanity.

After work you should be taking care of yourself too. Eat healthy at home; Go to the gym or for a run; Work on your yoga poses; Take a bath to release stress. One of the most important things is to make sure you are going to bed on time and getting the appropriate amount of sleep. Your body needs to rejuvenate for the day ahead – so put down Twitter and save it for tomorrow.

Silly season may be coming, but if you take the time to prepare yourself, you’ll find the workload is easier, less stressful, and your clients are happy.