December is A LOT. Here’s how to manage it (and still show up strong as an in-house lawyer)

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Deep Dive

The end of the year is stressful; here are seven ways to manage at work

Each morning so far this month, the first thing our eight-year-old does when he comes downstairs is open the next door on his Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar. Among Legos, Minecraft, and Santa, I’m not sure which he loves most. But it’s safe to say, this calendar is a big hit.

And while Advent calendars don’t technically count down to the end of the year, it feels to me a little like they do. Because once those little doors start opening, I know what’s coming: the sprint to wrap up work before the week between Christmas and New Year’s when very little actually gets done.

That countdown brings a strange mix of emotions: gratitude, exhaustion, and the annual panic of realizing how few days remain.

December always comes with competing priorities. Close deals, finish projects, plan budgets… and buy thoughtful gifts, show up at holiday events, make the season magical for our kids, and be present for the people we love.

It’s often joyful, and also, for many, marked by the absence of loved ones who won’t be with us this year. In other words: December is a lot.

This month is supposed to be a season of accomplishment and celebration. And it can be, if we approach it intentionally. Here are seven practices that can help you have a better December at work and at home too.

1. Embrace the power of the pause

You know what I find myself doing much more often than normal when I’m tired or stressed? Being short with people and assuming the worst. I bet you can relate.

Knowing that tendency, plus understanding that this entire month is likely one when you’re more stressed and tired than normal, try to pause before you react. At work, this might look like taking a break before responding when a colleague asks you a question that you have answered three times already, or waiting a few hours before responding to the unreasonable last-minute request that fell onto your desk 15 minutes before the Q4 board meeting.

At home, it means taking a breath when you realize that despite your giving 10, 5, and 2 minute warnings that it’s almost time to leave for school, your third-grader is still in his pajamas.

Pausing likely won’t make the stressor that made you want to react negatively go away, but it will help you avoid making the situation worse by snapping back.

2. Be ruthless in your prioritization

There are some things at work that absolutely do need to get done by the end of the year. This often means things like closing key revenue deals, getting formal approval on certain budgets and company priorities for next year, and compliance related tasks.

But not everything you would like to accomplish falls into that category.

A useful rule of thumb is that if completing it now won’t materially change outcomes in December or January, it’s probably not a priority.

If a task isn’t tied to revenue, risk, or a time-sensitive decision—does it really deserve space on your December calendar? What are the consequences of getting it done early in Q1, rather than in these last few weeks of the year?

By deferring anything that isn’t revenue-critical, risk-sensitive, or time-bound, you free up time and energy to actually deliver on the work that matters, and you dramatically increase the odds that the highest priorities get done.

The same approach, applied to your personal life, will also likely make things better at home and at work. Do you really need to finalize plans for the kitchen renovation this month? Probably not. And while you may need to book summer camps before they sell out, you probably don’t need to fill out the eight thousand pages of health forms, sunscreen forms, and authorized driver forms right now.

3. Be intentionally empathetic

Empathy is always a strength, but it becomes especially valuable during seasons when everyone is stretched thin. December tends to amplify friction; rushed emails sound harsher than intended, last-minute requests feel unreasonable, and people snap over things they normally wouldn’t.

In those moments, try to pause and assume best intentions. Not because people are always right, but because they’re usually tired, overwhelmed, and doing their best under too many competing pressures. When someone fires off a frantic request, ask yourself what you would do if you were in their position and truly needed the thing done.

Most of the time, you’ll realize they’re not trying to be difficult; they’re simply trying to keep things from falling apart.

4. Consider whether to increase your communication frequency

Most of us develop steady communication rhythms within the legal team and across the company. Over time, we revise these patterns until they generally work: too much communication and we spend all day in meetings or drowning in email; too little and everyone drifts toward different priorities.

But the amount of communication that works for most of the year may not be enough for December. In December, the whole company is moving quickly to wrap up year-end goals, finalize deals, and close out budgets. At the same time, many of us are more distracted than usual, with holiday travel, disrupted routines, family logistics, and a calendar packed with celebrations (and obligations).

That combination of higher urgency and lower attention creates more room for misalignment.

So, for this month only, consider dialing up the frequency just a bit. More frequent Slack updates. Quick end-of-day summaries. Forwarding emails you’d normally keep to yourself. Reminders about goals, priorities, or timelines that help the team stay focused.

Even though more communication might take a bit more time, it prevents gaps, surprises, and unnecessary rework during an especially chaotic stretch. When January arrives, you can return to your normal cadence. But for now, a slight communication boost may be exactly what your team needs to finish the year strong.

5. Take care of your physical health

December is often the hardest month of the year to sleep well and get exercise. That’s precisely why it matters so much to try.

Adequate sleep and even modest exercise have outsized effects on mood, energy, and stress tolerance. They also make it easier to think clearly and perform at a high level at work.

Set a bedtime and stick to it as much as possible. Block time on your calendar for movement. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but doing what you can makes a difference.

And a quick acknowledgment: I roll my eyes at the online narratives that treat waking up at 5 a.m. and lifting weights as some kind of virtue signal. It’s easier for some people than others, especially if you’re juggling childcare, work deadlines, and holiday obligations. If you happen to be in a season of sleepless nights or where dashing back and forth to your infant’s room each time he cries is your exercise, I feel you and remember the days. There’s no moral high ground here. Just a practical truth that if you can carve out time to rest and move, you tend to feel better.

6. Lean into the idea that some is likely better than none

December tends to blow up routines, and holding yourself to your usual standards can feel impossible. Instead of abandoning healthy habits entirely because you can’t do them perfectly, try embracing small, realistic wins. A little consistency often matters more than intensity.

For me, the daily 7+ mile runs I was doing in October and November are out the window. But I’m still finding at least half an hour to lift weights or go for a walk. It’s not the same, but it certainly helps.

And if Friday night was cocktails for dinner and Saturday was a cheese-and-gingerbread situation (we’ve all been there), Sunday doesn’t have to be a reset powered by guilt. It can simply mean making one thoughtful choice—like prioritizing real food and vegetables instead of continuing the weekend free-for-all.

Small, doable actions give you energy, confidence, and a sense of agency. And in a month where so much feels out of control, that’s often enough.

7. Embrace gratitude

What a privilege it is to have a job this holiday season, when so many don’t.

And how lucky we are if the things stressing us out in December are things like planning time with loved ones, choosing gifts, or trying to make the season feel magical for our kids. These are challenges rooted in abundance, connection, community, and tradition; we are fortunate.

Gratitude won’t eliminate the pressure of the month, but it reframes it. It reminds us that the work we’re racing to finish is work we get to do. That the people tugging at our time are people we care about. That the fullness of this season is, in many ways, evidence of a full life.

So when the pace starts to feel overwhelming, try to remember: even a stressful December can still be a meaningful one. Gratitude won’t solve everything, but it will help you move through the month with a bit more perspective, patience, and steadiness, both at home and as the colleague your team relies on.