The majority of us are looking forward to the Christmas break, yet the majority of us find the build-up the most stressful time of the year and worry about work during the holiday period.
SmartPA introduces some of the most effective tips for switching-off during this festive period.
1. Don’t leave important tasks unfinished
Before you break-up for Christmas, ensure all tasks deemed as important are completed. This may mean having to stay at work for an extra half an hour during the last week but it will save a lot of worrying over the holidays and work in January.
2. Follow up with a phone call
It can prove to be very frustrating when you are trying to complete important tasks and your emails are not being responded to. Your recipient will more than likely be in a similar situation. They may have even overlooked your email or have been out of the office. By giving them a phone call you are pushing towards completing your task – and if the recipient is not available, their colleague may be able to assist.
3. If you do need to pick up emails…
If you can, switch off all devices that you use at work. If it is essential that emails are needed to be checked during the Christmas break then it is useful to set alerts on your phone or tablet. This ensures that you will not have to check your inbox every 10 minutes and can feel more relaxed over your break.
4. Meditate
Relaxing can prove to be much harder than it sounds. Meditation is a great way to zone-out; helping reduce anxiety, improve sleep and increase productivity. The Headspace podcasts that are available online are an excellent starting point.
Switching-off is important, not only for your personal life but also professionally. Research by Bupa has shown that 47% of employees see a noticeable improvement in their mental health after a break or holiday from work. Giving yourself a much-earned rest will benefit your productivity and efficiency when you return in January.
