Tiếng ViệtThe end of the year is often synonymous with “the final sprint.” Deadlines pile up, checklists grow longer, and the working pace for many seems to accelerate endlessly. Yet amid that relentless momentum, there are roles that continue to operate quietly at full capacity to ensure the entire organization closes the year on a complete and seamless note – and administrative operations are one of them.
In this episode of 1-Minute Logout, we chose to tell a very different story. Instead of focusing on bursts of speed, we explore how one learns to slow down just enough during days that seem incapable of slowing at all. At the center of this story is Ms. Nguyễn Quỳnh, who is handling administrative responsibilities during the busiest period of the year, under a level of pressure far from the “light” workload many might assume.
Before joining SiciX, Ms. Quỳnh spent many years working in Compensation & Benefits and had not previously taken on a purely administrative role. Returning to this function right at year-end significantly increased her workload: from handling routine administrative tasks, preparing Lunar New Year gifts for employees and clients, organizing ceremonial offerings, to managing a series of announcements and procedures related to holiday schedules. For someone without extensive prior experience in this area, it was a genuine challenge – especially when everything had to be done urgently and with zero room for error.
According to her, the greatest pressure actually comes from the work that is rarely visible: year-end payroll and bonuses. Data must be consolidated from multiple sources, and every single figure has to be reviewed and cross-checked with absolute precision. A single incorrect number can directly affect someone else’s income. A delay of just one day can disrupt the year-end plans of multiple departments. And all of that effort is only truly “acknowledged” when… nothing goes wrong.
In the midst of that fast-paced cycle, Ms. Quỳnh does not force herself to slow down, but instead chooses to manage her rhythm. Tasks that “cannot afford any mistakes,” such as payroll, bonuses, and employee benefits, are prioritized during the hours when her mind is most alert – usually in the morning. Other paperwork and administrative duties are scheduled for time slots with lower energy levels. By clearly distinguishing between urgent tasks and those with more flexibility, and by staying closely aligned with deadlines, she is able to remain focused rather than being swept away by pressure.
When asked what message she would like to share with those who feel exhausted by year-end work, her response was simple and sincere:
“Slowing down doesn’t mean abandoning the work; it means choosing to work when your mind is still clear. When you start feeling irritable, unable to focus on the text, or mixing up numbers, that’s when you should stop. Taking a short break and continuing afterward is better than pushing through and having to fix mistakes repeatedly.”
Perhaps 1-Minute Logout is not meant for us to stop for long, but rather to create a brief pause to reflect on our own working rhythm. Because sometimes, allowing ourselves to slow down at the right moment is precisely how we continue forward more sustainably – together, in an environment that consistently places people at the center of every movement.
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