As you change gears into holiday mode, check out these 5 tips to help you get the most out of your time off and enter the new year feeling better than ever!
1. Set intentions
It’s easy to get caught up in what we think we’re ‘supposed’ to do over the holidays and lose sight of what is actually most important to us. Reflect on what you’ve been saying you wish you had time to do all year and clear your schedule so you can do exactly that. If holiday parties, surrounding yourself with friends and family, and other holiday traditions are your top priority, that is awesome. However, it is also okay if your priority is to take plenty of naps, finish the book you’re reading, or go for long runs. You are the only person who knows what’s best for you.
2. Get outside
In the winter months, many of us start work before the sun comes up, and finish after it has gone down – leaving us missing out on some much-needed vitamin D. Take advantage of your days off and get outside as much as you can. Build a snowman, go for a hike, or simply walk around your neighborhood, breathing in the crisp winter air!
3. Review your completed to-dos
Before you leave the office behind for the holidays, take a moment to reflect on all that you accomplished this past year. Did you know you can see all of your completed to-dos in Momentum? Click the downward arrow in the top bar of your Momentum Todo, then select ‘Done’.
Take some time to scroll through this ‘Done list’ — there are probably a few tasks you forgot about, a few that challenged you, and without question many that helped you grow in some way to get to where you are now. We often get so caught up in what we didn’t get done. Instead, take a moment to recognize all that you have done, and give yourself a pat on the back.
4. Leave work behind
Before technology, leaving the office meant you were off the clock. Today, we have emails, instant messages, and social media notifications that nudge our minds back to work. This holiday season, make an effort to minimize work-related distractions so you can be truly present in your personal life and get the most out of your time off.
Remember that taking time to rest is an investment, not an expense. Time spent relaxing will help you enter the new year feeling recharged, creative and inspired. To truly leave work behind, we suggest deleting work-related apps from your phone and setting up an automated vacation responder email before you take off. This way you can be at ease knowing that anyone who tries to get in touch with you will know you are taking some time off, and will not expect an immediate response.
5. Make time for real connection
We get so caught up in our busy routines that we seldom make time to really connect with others. Make time over the holidays to have real, quality time with the people who are important to you. Try leaving your phone at home; it’s amazing how connected we can get with others when we disconnect from technology.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Momentum!