It’s not always easy to switch off at Christmas.
There’s always one more email to send. One more job to tick off. One more meeting to have.
This might all be playing on your mind as you try your best to relax and be present during the holidays.
In this blog, we share our top 5 tips for really switching off this holiday season.
- Write yourself a list of priorities
You probably have lots to do before the year ends. We think it’s always a good idea to write an ordered list of priorities. The top of the list will be the ‘must do’, bottom of the list will be the ‘can wait’.
If you are leaving things until next year then write yourself as many notes on the task as possible. This will help you to easily jump back in after the festive fog has lifted.
- Have a digital detox
Going cold turkey and ditching your phone for an entire day will probably feel too much at first. You’ll need to work your way up to it. Try leaving your phone in another room for a short while. Then, over time, you can start to leave it for longer and longer. A little bit of space between you and your devices will allow you to be present in the moment, and prevent any temptation to check emails!
- Set up an out of office
Chances are, lots of people will be OOO over the festive period. However, if you work with other countries that don’t celebrate the season then emails may pop in your inbox. Set up an out of office letting people know when you will return and reply to emails. A staggering 64% of us read and respond to emails when we are meant to be off – is this you?
- Embrace downtime
Taking time off is actually important for productivity. Stepping away from the job not only helps you to have fresh ideas, but studies also show that it can have physical and mental health benefits too. People who take time off have lower stress, less heart disease risk and increased motivation.
So don’t feel guilty for having a lay-in, playing with the kids all day, watching Christmas movies, not opening your laptop. It could be for the good of your health and business!
- Get out in nature
This is always a favourite of mine and a great reason not to check your phone or emails for a few hours! Wrap up warm and spend some time outdoors in the fresh air. Hike in the woods, walk up hills, run through the park. This kind of headspace can do wonders for helping you switch off and boost some endorphins too!
Final thoughts: How to switch off at Christmas
If the stress or dread of work is creeping into your festive feelings, it might be time to evaluate next year. Do you want to be working where you are? Is there something better out there? Are you ready for a change?
If you are, get in touch with us at Urban Digital. We work with some really fantastic clients who we ourselves would gladly work for too!
Published on December 16, 2021 by how-to-switch-off-from-work-at-christmas