It’s been a long, crazy, up and down year. You’re running on fumes, but you tell yourself to “Finish strong” because you have too much work to do. Instead of looking forward to some time off, you’re dreaming about how much you could get done with a few days of uninterrupted time.
You make all sorts of excuses about how far behind you are, or how far ahead you could get. You may be thinking, “everyone else is taking time off for the holidays, so it’s the perfect time for me to get some work done.” But do you really want to start off the new year burned out?
Source: Over App
Finish Rested
Don’t work over the holidays if you can help it, and don’t convince yourself you can’t help it. If you truly think you won’t survive without working over the break, ask your business partner, spouse, staff, or board what they think. I’d be shocked if they didn’t encourage you to enjoy the time off.
Finishing the year strong is ok, but finishing rested is better.
Make it a priority to give yourself – and your assistant – some quality time off this holiday season to rest and recuperate for the new year.
6 Tips for Resting Well During the Holidays
Of course, it’s easy to tell ourselves we’re going to take some time off, but staying completely away from work is not so easy. Here are a few tips to help you and your assistant keep that “off” time from turning into “on” time.
1. Turn Off Your Phone
Maybe you use your phone for taking family pictures, or looking up BBQ recipes. That’s fine, but turn it on airplane mode, turn off notifications, log out of your email, etc. If you have an iPhone, you can use the “Do not disturb” feature.
2. Avoid Checking Email
Sign out of your account, have your assistant temporarily change your password, or lock your devices in a safe. Whatever you have to do to avoid checking your email over the break, do it. As one CEO told me a few weeks ago, “Email is the gateway drug of work.”
3. Write Down Your Goals for Next Year
Once you’ve had a day to decompress, take some time to think through what 3-5 things you want to accomplish next year. Don’t over-analyze or spend hours planning how you’ll accomplish each one. Simply list them out in a journal or on a whiteboard. This will help you clear your head so you can enjoy the time off. But it will also give you a starting point when you get back to work.
NOTE: If you need a more in depth self-assessment to help you clarify your goals and free up your time & energy, check out the 5-step process in my FREE eBook here. But you may want to set aside more time to do this during a work day.
4. Sleep
I know it’s cool to brag about your lack of sleep in some circles today, but it’s not healthy. Try going to bed early or sleeping in, and don’t feel guilty about either one. If you’re tired in the middle of the day, take a nap. The best part about sleeping? You can’t work while you’re asleep. At least, I haven’t met anyone who could.
5. Spend Focused, 1-on-1 Time With Your Spouse and Kids
Go on a walk. Take each one out to eat separately. Play a board game (even if you prefer to call them “bored games”). Watch a movie, then discuss it. Ask them what they would like to do and do it with them. And remember to turn your phone off.
6. Exercise
Many of us stare at a computer all day at our job. Take advantage of the chance to move around. Play basketball, go climbing, do jumping jacks, or go for a swim. You can go for a run too, but only if something or someone is chasing you.
I hope these tips help you like they’ve helped me. What other tips and tricks have helped you enjoy your time off? Comment below to share – I’d love to hear them!
BONUS: Free Download
To help you remember to take it easy, I put together a simple iPhone screensaver. Why? So that every time you look at your phone, you’re reminded to turn it off, spend time with your family, and rest. You can download it here or by clicking the image below. Happy resting!
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Are you overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout? I help leaders find, equip, and empower an assistant to gain more time, energy, and success! Click here to learn more about my coaching services.
