CEO offers tips for maintaining work/life balance during the holidays

My son turned 6 years old on Saturday, and we wanted to let him choose a gift for himself, so we loaded the minivan and headed to the toy store.

Since I'm well-established in my role as the Scrooge of our family, I wasn't thinking of what a potentially disastrous decision that was during this holiday season.

As we drew near the store, I noticed the heavy traffic and started dreading what was sure to come. When we got to the parking lot and pulled into what seemed to be one of the last available spots, my worst fears were confirmed.

The store was, as I should have expected, a madhouse, filled with people stacking their carts full of dolls, games, electronics and anything else they could grab to make their children happy on Christmas morning.

I thought to myself, "This is the price we pay as a family for having children with December birthdays." (In addition to my son's on Dec. 3, my oldest daughter's is on Dec. 31. At least we can wait until after Christmas to shop for her and sometimes nab good deals.)

As I trudged through the store, trying to weave our cart among the throng of shoppers, l thought of a press release I received recently.

The email was from MyCorporation CEO Deborah Sweeney, who also instructs aerobics classes and is a mom to two young boys, thus establishing her credentials as a busy person. In it, she provides tips to help people maintain work/life balance during the holiday season.

One of those tips especially hit home for me as I attempted to shop on a Saturday in December, seemingly with every other parent in the Salt Lake Valley.

Specifically, Sweeney recommends that managers help their team members rotate leaving a little early or coming in a bit late at this time of year.

"Usually people in the holiday spirit are willing to pick up some slack for others who need an hour or two here or there," she writes. "Sometimes people want to sleep in, attend their child’s holiday party or show, or just get a couple hours of less busy shopping time in.

"Whatever it is, we find that employees need a couple hours of personal time during the holiday season. When others are willing to pick up the slack, it can work out for everyone. Someone may be willing to take on a few extra calls to give a co-worker an extra-long lunch. It can be a win-win because it comes full circle when you need that extra time yourself!"

I'm guessing the toy store wouldn't have been quite as busy at, say, 2:30 p.m. on a Thursday. Good advice there.