For some of us, taking a break from work is easier said than done. It can be hard to prioritise self-care and truly maximise our time off when we are worrying about how much work is left or how much we will have to do when we get back to work. Despite this, good quality downtimes are crucial for our health and well-being, can help to prevent burnout, and also ensures that we are recharged to face new challenges in the new year. To help you finish the year strong, we have 3 key tips to help you make the most of your break and get in some quality, well-deserved rest.
Maintain
Maintenance in this context is similar to the idea of spring cleaning, albeit for the mind. It calls for us to declutter, get our chores done, and reorganise important aspects of our life after our busy year. Depending on your habits and preferences, this can mean tidying up your workplace, clearing out your inbox, organising your to-dos, re-evaluating your priorities, and so on.
While seemingly menial, tying up loose ends like these constitute a form of self-care that will allow us to comfortably close this chapter of our lives and prepare for the next one. It offers us the assurance to fully disconnect from work during the holiday season so that we can recharge without having to worry about these distractions weighing on our minds. We are also bound to feel less stressed and bogged down by the remnants of the year when we are rid of physical and mental clutter. By maintaining the things that are important for our work and life, we can count on things being in order when we return from our break, which in turn sets us up for success in the new year.
Rest
During our break, it is vital to allow our bodies some respite by physically resting and relaxing. Engaging in low-energy activities such as reading, playing board games, and watching our favourite shows are good examples that can bring us contentment while also giving our bodies the time needed to recover from exertions.
We have previously discussed the impacts of stress on our physical health. The same logic applies in relieving physical stress that our body experiences to proactively care for our health and well-being. Among other benefits, getting in proper rest can help to lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol levels, strengthen our immune system and improve digestion1.
Refill
Underscored by our belief in total health and wellness, we want to emphasise that it is just as important to look after our mental health as it is to care for our physical health. While resting allows our bodies to physically recharge, refilling replenishes our mental and emotional capacities.
To refill our mental cup at the end of the year, we will have to look to the re-energising activities that are especially fulfilling for each of us. These are the things that nourish our souls and make us happy, such as reconnecting with our loved ones, travelling, volunteering, spending time on our hobbies, planning out things to look forward to, and more. At the same time, it also requires us to evaluate and cut out certain aspects that have proven to be unnecessarily draining. This can include having too much screen time, obsessively checking our emails, or reading too much on topics that upset us.
Refilling is a necessary step in our yearly ritual of winding down and recharging in preparation for the new year as it inherently reconnects us with the most important things that drive us every day, even in the face of daunting obstacles. It allows us to recall personal motivations that make up the meaning of life, which in itself is essential for building our resilience and preventing burnout.
Over to you
After making it through another year, we have earned ourselves some well-earned time off to relax and recharge for the next year. However, it is also important to know that breaks are not just a reward that only comes after hard work; it is a necessity that helps to keep us in good health throughout the year. So as we start afresh in the new year, do remember to check in with yourself from time to time, take a break, and refer back to these tips whenever you need to.
Sources:
1. Forbes (2022) The benefits of resting and how to unplug in a busy world.
