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The Last Monday of 2024: When Your Brain Says 'Holiday' But Your Calendar Says 'Meeting'

Ah, December 30th. That awkward Monday when you're staring at your computer screen, still digesting holiday cookies, wondering why we haven't collectively agreed to just write off this whole week. Your out-of-office colleagues are living their best lives while you're here trying to remember your password after a week of eggnog-induced fog.


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Why This Day Is The Actual Worst


The Email Apocalypse

Your inbox looks like Black Friday at a retail store – pure chaos. Half your emails are out-of-office replies, the other half are "urgent" messages from people who clearly don't understand the meaning of holiday break.


The Ghost Town Office

The office is so empty, you're pretty sure you just saw a tumbleweed roll past your desk. The only other people here are Bob from accounting (who never takes vacation) and that one intern who didn't realize they could request time off.


The Identity Crisis

Are we working? Are we pretending to work? Should we be wearing real pants or is this still technically holiday loungewear territory? These are the philosophical questions that plague us.


How to Actually Make This Day Productive (Or At Least Bearable)


Embrace the Chaos

  • The Reality: Your brain is still in holiday mode, and that's okay

  • The Solution: Start with small, manageable tasks. Think toddler steps, not marathon running

    • Clean up your desktop (yes, those 47 screenshots from March can go)

    • Actually organize your email folders (future you will be so impressed)

    • Update your calendar for January (pretend you're the kind of person who has their life together)


Turn the Empty Office to Your Advantage

  • The Reality: It's quieter than a library during finals week

  • The Solution: Use this rare peace to:

    • Finally make that doctor's appointment without whispering

    • Eat your lunch at your desk without judgment (yes, that leftover fish is fine today)

    • Have that existential crisis you've been putting off – the echo in the empty office really adds to the ambiance


Deal With The Email Situation

  • The Reality: Your inbox looks like it exploded

  • The Solution: Implement the "Three Pile System":

    • Pile 1: Actually urgent

    • Pile 2: Can wait until brain function returns

    • Pile 3: Bold of them to think this is getting answered before 2025


Plan for Success

  • The Reality: You're not at your peak performance, and neither is anyone else

  • The Solution: Focus on preparation for January

    • Set up your Q1 planning documents

    • Write down your 2025 goals

    • Create templates for projects you know are coming

    • Actually learn how to use that software you've been faking knowledge of all year


Making Peace with the Awkward Monday

Let's be honest – this day is weird. It's like the corporate equivalent of that time between Christmas and New Year's when nobody knows what day it is and cheese becomes an acceptable breakfast food. Instead of fighting it, lean in.


The Silver Lining Approach

  • Minimal meetings (everyone important is "working from home")

  • No one expects quick responses

  • You can finally wear those questionable holiday socks without HR notices

  • Perfect time to practice your "looking busy" face for 2025


The Grand Finale

Remember, you're not alone in this strange limbo between holiday chaos and new year motivation. Somewhere out there, another professional is also contemplating if sending an email with just "😅" as the response is acceptable business communication.


Take this day for what it is – an opportunity to tie up loose ends, plan for the future, and maybe send a few passive-aggressive calendar invites for 8 AM January meetings (because if you have to suffer, why not spread the joy?).


From all of us at OtterStream HR, hang in there. January is coming, and with it, the return of normal chaos instead of this special holiday variety.


Pro Tips for Survival:

  • Coffee is your friend (but maybe switch to decaf after that fourth cup)

  • "Server issues" is still a valid excuse for delayed responses

  • It's perfectly acceptable to count "clearing browser history" as productivity

  • Yes, ordering lunch delivery is self-care today


We're all in this together – except for those people on vacation... We're definitely not bitter about them at all.


 
 
 

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