Friday Focus: Preparing for the holidays

Dec. 3, 2021

— by Julie Queen, vice chancellor for administrative services

We have officially hit the holiday season! I have already kicked off the season by eating most of the tasty little treats at the Chancellor’s Holiday Gathering, am playing holiday music in my car, and have started making calculations for when to ship things to friends and family out of state. It is nice to visit with more colleagues and friends in person again. 

What this also means is that we are about to hit the rush of student finals and the general flurry of productivity that comes before taking our university winter holiday closure. Everyone works hard to move things off of their desks before taking some down time to rest and rejuvenate before the New Year. Sometimes, this raises the level of stress for everyone during this fun but hectic time. Many factors, including finances, travel, and high expectations of ourselves and others, can contribute to being overwhelmed. 

In my VCAS directors team meeting this week, we talked about ways to cope with some stresses of the season, how to stay effective, and the importance of appreciating others. First, it is important to remember that not all groups are able to take the full winter closure period. Police, fire and emergency services, Facilities Services, payroll, several groups in Student Affairs, and many research staff and faculty are working at different times over the break. We appreciate your dedication and service, and I am hopeful that these and other groups across the university will find some joyful ways to celebrate while attending to regular duties. 

Next, some great habits are to try to get some exercise (sometimes easier said than done), try to get outside and enjoy the snow, find snippets of sun, see a concert (Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra has one this weekend), enjoy aurora viewing and photo snapping, sledding, skiing, or a bonfire complete with cocoa. Saying “no thank you” is OK if you are feeling overcommitted. Check in with those you haven’t heard from in awhile. Sometimes the holidays are lonely, and a short contact, text or voicemail can brighten many a mood to let others know you are thinking about them. Alaska also offers a Suicide Prevention and Someone to Talk To Careline, if someone you know is in crisis or you are concerned about them or yourself. It is OK to ask for help.   

One of the directors in my team meeting cleverly referred to the time after our closure period as “holiday amnesia,” which also creates stress for some returning to the office after being away. Forgotten log-in information and a scattered list of “to-do’s” can easily sidetrack good intentions to tackle those work projects, hit the gym, and start off the year on the right foot. 

One suggestion from my team is to make a list before break of the things in the queue, the things partially done or in flight, and items with early deadlines in the New Year that will sneak up quickly upon return. This is a way to more effectively jump back in after the break without losing track of things that were important a mere few weeks prior and to avoid this temporary “amnesia.” 

However you choose to prepare for and enjoy the holidays, I hope you are able to be present, joyful and peaceful. Warmest Nanook wishes for a happy holiday season and wonderful New Year!

Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.