The month of December is known for its parties and its social gatherings, its charitable events and its many vacation days. One thing it isn’t known for is productivity. At many companies, it’s all you can do to keep the doors open and the lights on during these final weeks of the year.

But what if, while your competitors were all partying and blowing off steam, you actually made December one of your most productive months of the year? It’s possible, and it doesn’t require that you completely reject the holiday spirit, either. You can adopt a few simple strategies and habits to keep yourself—and your team—working well throughout the holidays.

Let me show you what I mean.

Stay Productive During the Holidays

Get an early start. Try coming to the office earlier to get plenty of work done before the day gets away from you. That way, if you get swept up in an afternoon or evening holiday party, you can feel good about having gotten something accomplished earlier in the day.

Spend some time in reflection. The holidays provide a good time for looking back. Ask yourself: What worked over the past year? What’s one thing I need to continue doing? And what’s one thing that really didn’t work? What’s one thing I need to change?

Set goals. Prepare yourself to hit the ground running in 2017. Make a long list of all the things you hope to achieve in the coming year, and also the metrics you’ll use to evaluate your progress.

Get appointments on your calendar. Family vacation days, doctor appointments, trips to the dentist… December is a great time to put all of this on your calendar for the coming year, allowing you to feel totally organized come January.

Purchase what you need. If there is any equipment or any supplies your team needs for the coming year, the Christmas season can be a good time to shop around for discounts and bargains.

Make a personal wellness plan. Even as you’re surrounded by Christmas cookies and other seasonal goodies, you can still spend some time thinking about ways to keep fit and energetic in the coming year.

With these tips, you can ensure that your holiday season is fun—but also productive.

Dr. Rick Goodman CSP is a motivational leadership speaker who provides solutions globally that help people and organizations lead, engage, and grow their business.

He is also the author of the book Living A Championship Life, “A Game Plan for Success,” and the co–author of the book Jamie’s Journey: Travels with My Dad written with his sixteen-year-old daughter Jamie.

Dr. Rick is famous for helping organizations, corporations, and individuals with systems and strategies that produce increased profits and productivity without having the challenges of micromanaging the process. Some of Dr. Rick’s clients include Heineken, AT&T, Boeing, Cavium Networks, IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Franklin Templeton Investments.

Contact Dr. Rick at www.rickgoodman.com or call 888-267-6098 about speaking at your next event!