Christmas is nearly upon us once and no doubt you are excited to be stopping work and having a few days downtime. I am feeling a bit jaded by this time in the year so a break is very welcome! Taking a break and enjoying some time off during the holidays is essential for your well-being. Time with family, socialising with friends, presents, experiences and traditions. But then you start to think about all the stresses of stopping and the work building up again in your absence. Getting everything done to stop! Who will do the work if you don’t. it’s a lovely but crazy time of year.
Creating some emotional balance, in your life is critical for your personal and professional wellbeing and success. And if you don’t have some down time and find ways to stop, and recharge, January will be here in a flash without you having had time to rest, recharge and refocus yourself for the year ahead.
Here is my festive checklist on how to shut down for Christmas and make the most of your time away from work:
Let colleagues and clients know you time off details in advance. By spelling out your work time and vacation time you are communicating to others and managing expectations.
Clearly communicate your availability during the holiday period. It is a means of creating a boundary for yourself of what you want to happen over the festive period so people can respect that.
If there are others at work when you aren’t, then delegate tasks and responsibilities if you can, to ensure a smooth transition during your absence.
Set up any out of office activity messaging and turn off work-related notifications on your phone and other devices.
Try to complete as many pending tasks as possible before your break. And remember that although you may not finish every little thing, you can give yourself permission for that to be OK! And importantly, when you stop you mentally close the door and turn the key!
Just focusing on the priorities will get the main jobs done. Then create a to-do list with dates to help you stay organised, focused, and ready to hit the ground running on your return.
It is important to allow yourself to disconnect from work. Avoid checking work emails or messages
during your time off. Maybe even turnoff some apps that might pull you back to a work mode.
Get into the spirit of the season in whatever way that means for you
Decorate your home or workspace with festive decorations to create that holiday atmosphere.
Put some music on, watch a movie, read a book, hit the gym, take a yoga class, or bake a cake, engage in some charitable work! Whatever feels good to help shift your focus away from work.
Prioritise spending time with family and friends.
Do things that bring you positive energy, joy, and relaxation.
There is a lot going on in the World News all year round and now is no exception. However, sometimes we need to just manage all that external stress provoking information because we simply have little control over it. So, reduce exposure to stressors by limiting your time on social media and news platforms. Instead focus on positive and uplifting content. Things that energise you and make you feel positive and feeling good.
This is a time to engage in activities you may not have had time to enjoy so much in the year. Use the holiday break to explore new hobbies or interests that you’ve been curious about.
Enjoy the moment and be present in your holiday activities.
Avoid thinking about work-related matters; give yourself the mental space to fully unwind, recharge and reset.
Finally, as the New Year comes in why not reflect on the past year and set some new goals and intentions for yourself. What do you want to happen this year for yourself. Consider what you want to achieve both personally and professionally.
Spend some time alone to reflect on your values, passions, and what brings you joy.
Reassess your priorities. Take this time to evaluate what truly matters to you.
Consider making adjustments in your life that align with your evolving values.
And also remember to celebrate milestones and achievements you’ve enjoyed in the last year, even the smallest of things as well as the big ones. Start the year strong and positive!
Remember that taking a break is not only acceptable but beneficial for your overall productivity and well-being. Use this time to recharge and come back to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
And with a New Year you have new opportunity to reset, create a new future vision for yourself and achieve new desires.
And if you would like some help to set some new goals and work towards that vision
Drop me a line and let’s get you started with clarity, focus, motivation, and a plan of action!
Have a wonderful festive seasonal break and all my best for the New Year
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