I have three weeks leave scheduled from Christmas Eve, and I am in a complete panic about being out of the office for so long. Is it just me? Should I really be taking such a long holiday? Can you please give me some tips for how to wind down and enjoy my break?
Jane, Finance
It’s not just you! There are loads of people who are having the exact same panic attack as you are, right now. Both my research and my personal experience tell me that in reality, many people find it really difficult to take their annual leave each year, and Christmas seems to come with it’s own heightened level of anxiety. What’s just as bad, is that even when people do manage to get some time off work, many people spend most of the time wound up, thinking about work, or feeling guilty for not being in the office.
We work so hard all year and are so ingrained in worker mode, that it’s perfectly normal to freak out at the thought of being away from the office. But it’s really important for you to be able to leave your work behind for the few weeks you get off, so you can recharge, relax and come back refreshed after your break. So how can you get from where you might be (working like a dog) to where you want to be (relaxing by the beach)? Here are four thought starters to get you moving in the right direction.
- You’re not alone — The good news is, most people take these next few weeks off, so you are in good company. This means that you are unlikely to miss anything major. This is one of the great things about being in Australia over the Christmas break. Hopefully this will help you relax a little and ease you into your leave period.
- Clear your desk and inbox – One of the best ways to clear your mind before you go on leave, is to clear your desk and inbox before you go. As I wrote last week, there is nothing worse than having unmet tasks or deadlines hanging over you whilst you try to chill out with friends and family. Not a recipe for relaxation. Make sure you get everything that needs to be done, done, before you head out. This might sound easy and I know it’s not always the case, but get clear on your priorities and must do tasks and focus on that before you head out.
- Let the rest go – if you have met your deadlines, cleared your desk, returned all your phone calls and essentially closed out your workload, then it’s time to let the rest go. Projects that you wished had taken off during the year that didn’t? Other things nagging you that didn’t pan out? Take the lesson and move on. When you leave the office or close your laptop for the holidays, do it with the understanding that you did your best, and leave the rest behind you as you go into the break.
- Switch your mindset – it’s time to get out of worker bee mode and into beach goddess mode (or whatever tickles your holiday fancy). Don’t laugh. It’s an amazing feeling, to be able to switch off from the routine of daily life. No meetings, no conference calls, hopefully little cooking or domestics, no school lunches, no homework, nothing of a regular nature to have to contend with. The body and the brain can just let go and relax. And the spirit gets that chance to recharge as well. But you need to step into that mindset. You have to make that choice, and only you can do it. Decide that you have earned your break, and that you are really going to take it (not just pretend to!).
Breaks are not a luxury – they are a necessity for you to reach your ultimate potential. Follow the steps above so you can really have the downtime that I am sure is well deserved. And go have some fun!
Wishing you and all Women’s Agenda readers a safe, peaceful and very merry holiday season.