I seem to always get caught up in a swirl of deadlines, campaigns, and chaos wrapped in tinsel at this time of year.  In the words of Clark Griswold, “Hallelujah! Holy sh*t! Where’s the Tylenol?”

If you’re in marketing, I bet you have been feeling it since August. My team sticks to our typical schedules and timeframes, but we also make time to connect and spread a little joy. We give each other small gifts, go out to dinner, and, of course, in typical Giant Shoe fashion, have a big Christmas networking party.

Those unbillable moments aren’t a break from work; they are part of it. They remind us of why we enjoy coming to work every day.

“Connection is why we are here; it is what gives purpose and joy to our work.” -Brené Brown

Your coworkers typically get more of your hours than your family, and sometimes even more than your pillow. So why not use that time wisely? Patrick Lencioni argues that having a broader connection with your coworkers makes your life more fulfilled. People do their best work when they know they are seen and appreciated beyond the tasks.

Now this doesn’t happen automatically; you have to plan for joy. We get ready for Christmas as early as the summer. Not because we are holiday fanatics, but because getting ahead creates space later. It means we can keep things a bit more relaxed in December while still moving forward.

If you prepare ahead, you can have a joyful, relaxing, and focused finish to the year. Our clients like it too, even when they make fun of us for talking about Christmas when the summer sun is still shining.

Our teams can work harder all season, or we can let people enjoy their work and connect. I believe that joy is the better way to go. It keeps teams together, innovative, and focused on what is most important, presents… I mean presence!