Although in my ideal world people give themselves breaks and don’t worry about productivity over the holidays, we don’t live in a society that rewards sabbaticals. Thus, the general consensus is that rather than focusing on how to relax, we need to focus on how to work diligently (though maybe slightly less) through break time.
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Perhaps counter-intuitively, I believe getting more done in the long run means taking breaks every once in a while. This is essential to preventing burnout and general insanity (or, worse, misery). The key to becoming successful is in working smarter, rather than harder, and part of working smarter requires mindfulness and awareness. These are limited resources and they will evaporate in time if you let them become exhausted. Thus, vacations provide an excellent time to be productive – by recharging your batteries.
However, taking a break does not always have to mean doing nothing.
Here are some things you can do to feel like you’ve done something.
- Stimulate yourself through media. For example, by reading a book that interests you or pushes you. I like to read trade magazines and memoirs, but it’s up to you. This is a direct contrast to what most Westerners do on the holidays – veg out in front of the tv, so it might be a challenge in and of itself just to find a book.
- Stimulate yourself through conversation. Holidays are meant to be a time spent with family and friends. In between presents, eating, and catching up, I encourage you to have a conversation that pushes you and your relatives. I don’t mean politics and religion, either. Simply asking how they stay organized can work wonders by giving you new ideas and insights for your own system.
- Go shopping with awareness. Try this exercise: go to the store (any store) and try to write down 10 ways you’re being targeted by the products you see. Sales, colors, and even smells… there are a million ways to target a consumer. How are you being made the bulls-eye?
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so I’d love to hear how you get things done over the holidays – whether that’s my method of pushing your own envelope and recovering, or through traditional methods, like working.
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