Diwali is here, and as much as you might want to trade in your to-do list for a box of laddoos and a Netflix binge, there’s a fine art to striking that balance between celebrating and staying on top of work. 

You don’t want to return to your desk post-Diwali with more emails than Diya lights at your home!

Think of this as your “Diwali Work Survival Guide”—a few simple tips to enjoy the festivities without having work chaos waiting to greet you afterward. 

Because while we’re all for celebrating big, we’d prefer to do it without the dread of unfinished tasks looming over us. (Meaning, you don’t want your manager/boss to call you while you’re about to burst a firecracker, and you take the call only to realize you blew yourself up.)

So let’s dive into some pre-Diwali prep and smart ways to keep that post-holiday momentum, all while enjoying the festive lights and sweets guilt-free.

Pre-Diwali Planning

Let’s make this practical with role-specific examples to show how you can prepare for a smooth Diwali break. 

Here’s how a few professionals from different industries can plan effectively:

Pharma Sales Representative:

With targets and client follow-ups always pressing, planning here is crucial. Before signing off, identify priority clients to check in with and update on any upcoming product promotions or samples. 

Schedule automatic follow-ups through your CRM, so your pipeline stays active even when you’re away. 

Finally, communicate any pending client needs to a teammate so that you don’t need a conversation with them during the festivities.

Real Estate Project Manager:

The real estate sector demands constant updates and milestone tracking. 

Before you head out, review your ongoing projects and delegate responsibility for any in-progress tasks to your team. 

Send out project update emails to clients and stakeholders with clear next steps and timelines. Leaving everyone informed reduces your need to check in and ensures projects move along smoothly.

FMCG Brand Marketer:

With deadlines around product launches and marketing campaigns, planning is key for marketers. 

Make sure your digital and social campaigns have been scheduled for the holiday period. Coordinate with your design and content teams on pending creatives and ensure the marketing calendar is finalized with checkpoints and pre-scheduled posts. (Just try to not get any calls for content approvals; it sucks and we know it.)

Prepping assets ahead of time ensures that campaigns stay on track, even while you’re enjoying Diwali.

Post-Diwali: Getting Back into the Flow

Getting back into action is easy given that you had planned your pre-Diwali efficiently. However, here are a few tips for post-Diwali to get into action smoothly.

Ease into Your Routine:

Enter the office. Sit at your desk and take a relaxing sip of coffee or tea while having flashbacks of the remarkable time you spent with your family during this Diwali.

Slowly review your pre-Diwali to-do list. Pick the top priority tasks rather than trying to tackle everything at once.

Tackle Tasks in Chunks:

If there are emails and projects waiting, break them down into smaller parts to avoid overwhelm. Start with smaller wins before moving on to the bigger tasks.

Stay Refreshed & Energized: 

Diwali celebrations are uplifting, but the festivities can also drain our energy. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and remember to keep your post-festival glow alive by pacing yourself. (And don’t forget to show the coolest photos and videos you took during the Diwali vacation at home.)

UpMan Placements: Here it goes….up….up….up….& boom!

UpMan Placements is the organization of people by people and for people, meaning we celebrate each and every moment that helps us unite as an organization. And the moment like Diwali is the epitome of all the festivals we celebrate in India. And we remember where we come from—the place where emotions are valued more than money.

Here’s a glimpse of how we celebrate Diwali at UpMan Placements.