This year has been challenging and hectic as well. Over the Christmas break, most of us are eager to get some rest and recovery time. Even though working can be quite fulfilling, it can make disconnecting from work extremely challenging. It’s not easy to just stop, especially if you’ve been running at a thousand miles per hour for most of the year.
It’s crucial for your mental health to take a break and unwind so that you can start the new year feeling completely rejuvenated. Here are a few methods to truly take a break from work throughout the holiday season.
1. Considering your to-do list, be realistic
You can only accomplish so much before Christmas. December is a time when things slow down for many businesses. While it may sound ideal, it can occasionally lead to inflated expectations of accomplishing a long list of tasks that you haven’t had time to complete throughout the remainder of the year. Recognize that you probably won’t be able to finish all of these. Furthermore, if you cannot finish task by Christmas, it won’t mean the end of the world.
Instead of starting a lot of new initiatives, concentrate on completing the important tasks and ongoing projects you already have underway. Your mental health will benefit considerably more from not stressing about incomplete work during the holidays. To give you this peace of mind, it might be worthwhile to put in a few more hours the week before your trip, if necessary.
Make a to-do list for when you return before you go. This will help things when you get back by telling your brain when it’s time to stop working.
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2. Establish limits during Christmas
Before you log off, turn on your out-of-office email. The objective is to attempt to avoid thinking about work until your first day back. If, however, you know you’ll need to put in some work and that’s not feasible for you, then plan it into your vacation. Decide on specific times, communicate your expectations to your management and your family, and resist the need to deviate from them.
When you finish, facilitate your switch-off by instructing your brain to stop working through any activity. To tell your mind that it’s “your” time again, take a stroll, listen to music, or do anything else you would typically do after work (assuming you don’t commute).
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3. Control your email, don’t allow it to control you
Did you know that 60% of people check their emails when they are not at work? Turn off your laptop and log out of or remove any messaging apps until you return in January to reduce your temptation to do this.
If you’re the kind of person who would rather know what’s in your inbox than be worried about it, schedule a short time each day to check in. For the remainder of the time, try to forget about it. Sending responses outside of an emergency will only push people out of their own holiday mood. For anything really important, you may always leave alternate contact information with coworkers. After that, you can unwind, knowing that everything else can wait until you get back.
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4. Spend some time by yourself
Do you have enjoyable hobbies you never have time for? It’s time to complete them now. Curl up with a good movie, spend time with loved ones, play board games, read a book, take a stroll, or devote some time to your hobbies—anything that takes your mind off of work is a good idea. While it’s crucial to have downtime, turning off the workday doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. Make some arrangements so that you don’t feel like you should be working while sitting around your house bored.
Remember to take care of yourself as well. Another excellent method to detach from work is to do something that makes you feel good, like taking a relaxing massage, going for a swim, or grabbing a cup of coffee from your favorite café.
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5. Take it slowly
We advised you to make arrangements, but try to avoid hurrying over the holiday season. You will continue to feel overwhelmed if you attempt to cram too much into your schedule. Whether you socialize in person or over Zoom, try to distribute your time around it fairly during the break. Furthermore, don’t stress over having the “perfect” Christmas because there isn’t one. Set time limits for social media use and concentrate on living in the now and savoring each moment as it arrives.
If necessary, turn down invites so that you can spend time alone. When things have settled down in January, you can always catch up with people.
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6. Make a return plan
Even if you enjoy your work, returning to it in the gloomy, chilly month of January can be a little depressing. Thus, give yourself something pleasant to look forward to to lessen the discomfort. Plan to meet up with friends after work or prepare a delicious meal on the first day back. Before you go back to work, restock your refrigerator and do your laundry. You’ll begin the new year in a composed and well-organized manner.
By organizing your time before and throughout your Christmas break and setting reasonable goals, you can disconnect from work and return to the office rejuvenated and prepared for the opportunities and difficulties of the upcoming year. Enjoy your wonderful vacation!
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