Help! I have to work and my family is coming to town.

The holidays and family visits can bring joy and they can also bring stress. Harmonizing work, home responsibilities, and family time often feels overwhelming, especially when your schedule is already full. The good news? With a little planning and intentional effort, you can reduce stress and actually enjoy both productivity and time with loved ones.

Here are eight strategies to help you work efficiently and stay present when family is in town.

1. Clean in Small, Manageable Steps

When guests are coming, it is easy to panic about how your home looks. Instead of tackling everything at once, break it into manageable segments. Clean one room per day or divide larger spaces into quadrants and work on one section at a time.

Even better, assign age appropriate tasks to family members or housemates. Shared responsibility makes the workload lighter and less stressful.

2. Redesign Your Calendar

Your regular workday calendar may not fit when family is visiting. Try creating a “holiday calendar” or a “company’s coming” calendar.

• Choose specific workdays (e.g., Monday–Thursday).

• Block work time in the mornings, when you are freshest and family is often still asleep.

• Prioritize success lists (focused on money making or high impact activities) instead of overwhelming to do lists.

This way, you protect your most important work while leaving afternoons and evenings free for family time.

3. Prep for Work Blocks

Once you have carved out work time, maximize it by prepping in advance. Gather everything you will need, including laptop cords, chargers, water, coffee, snacks, etc., before starting.

Turn off notifications, silence distractions, and commit to one task at a time. Focus on finishing one tactic before moving on to the next task.

4. Consolidate Time Wasters

Unplanned errands and constant email checks drain productivity. Consolidate these time wasters by:

• Checking email only once or twice a day, after your work block.

• Scheduling errands just one or two times a week instead of constantly running out to grab one or two things.

• Delegate errands to family members, housemates, or even visitors, when possible.

Every errand you offload is more time preserved for meaningful work or family connection.

5. Plan and Simplify Meals

Food is central when family comes to visit, but meal stress does not have to be. Plan meals all in advance to include before your company arrives, while they are there, and after they leave.

• Make shopping lists ahead of time.

• Buy non perishables early.

• Simplify meals instead of overcomplicating them.

• Ask family to bring specific items or ingredients to avoid duplicates and disappointment.

And remember to use your consolidated errand days for grocery shopping too.

6. Simplify Holiday Gift Shopping

Gift giving is another area where stress can sneak in. Simplify the process:

• Make a clear plan of who you are buying for and where you will buy the gift.

• Use consolidated errand time for both in store and online shopping.

• Support local businesses, when possible, as your gifts can help your community thrive.

Intentional planning keeps holiday shopping meaningful instead of chaotic.

7. Schedule Family Time and Downtime

When you have created your “holiday” or “company’s coming” calendar, make sure family time is included. Be clear about when it is work time and when it is family time. During work time, it is okay to say “let me finish here and I will get back to you.” During family time, put your phone away and be fully present.

Also, schedule downtime for yourself. Even sneaking away for an hour with a book can help recharge your energy so you can show up more joyfully for everyone else.

8. Celebrate Successes and Reset Your Vision

Amid the busyness, remember to pause and celebrate your successes. Write down all that you have accomplished in the past six months and throughout the year.

Then, look forward. What do you want your life to look like 6 months, 1 year, 3years, or even 5–10 years from now? Set goals that align with that vision, and create a tactic list to begin working toward them. The combination of reflection, celebration, and visioning provides a reset that leaves you feeling proud, clear, and motivated.

Harmonizing work with family visits is about intentional planning, simplifying wherever possible, and giving yourself permission to focus on what matters most. With structure and boundaries in place, you can stay productive, enjoy your loved ones, and come out of the season refreshed instead of depleted.

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