As the end of the year draws near, we should all be starting to wind down for the year, and preparing to celebrate with our friends and families for the festive season and the new year! While some people can easily disconnect and forget about work, others struggle. With many of us working from home or working with hybrid models, it's easy for the lines that separate work and personal time to blur. So we've put together some tips to help you pause, relax, reflect, and reset for this festive season.
As we approach the end of another year, filled with many events most of us can comfortably say we didn’t see coming, it’s time to start winding down, preparing for the festive season and the beginning of anew year! As 2023 comes to a close, and we begin to plan and prepare for what comes in 2024, it’s important that we remember to take some time to pause, relax, reflect, and reset before taking on the new goals and challenges that we’ll be presented with in the new year.
The end of the year presents us with the perfect opportunity, to stop and reflect on what has happened this year – both positive and negative. Reflection enables us to learn and better understand ourselves, especially if you’ve under gone some troubling experiences through the year. This also provides a great opportunity to reset your perspective.
Reflection can be a powerful tool for resetting your perspective. When you take the time to reflect on your experiences, thoughts, and emotions, you give yourself the opportunity to gain new insights, understandings, and a broader view of a situation. Reflection allows you to step back, evaluate your thoughts and actions, and consider alternative viewpoints.
Psychologists emphasise the importance of approaching changes that contribute to your well-being with gentleness and self-compassion. Avoid judging yourself and accept the past, focusing on making the right changes that will lead to positive outcomes in the year to come. This is where practicing reflection becomes an important tool.
If you are somebody who has a journal, chances are you’ve already engaged in reflective writing before. Practicing reflective writing allows you to look back on the events of the past year in the safety of your journal, and process the thoughts and emotions attached to those circumstances. This provides you with a better opportunity to understand how you felt, and get to the bottom of why you might still be affected by these events, positively or negatively. To do this, choose a topic, describe the experience, express your feelings, and try to identify the themes, patterns or lessons learnt. You know what they say, hindsight is 2020, and hind sight is at the core of self-understanding, for without it, we cannot fully self-reflect. Reflect on your personal growth, events, or challenges you’ve overcome (or have yet to), as well as what your grateful for, your relationships or, lessons learned.
This time of year should be taken for yourself, and your family. Unplugging and recharging over the holidays keeps your mind healthy and reduces stress so you can start the new year rejuvenated and ready to take on any challenges. While there’s nothing wrong with thinking about work outside of your set hours, some people have their best ideas during their off time! However, not being able to switch off from work can cause mental health problems like burnout or prolonged stress, and with the amount of technology always present in our lives, it’s very easy to for us to be contacted at any time. This coupled with the fact that many of us are now able to work from home, the lines between work and personal life can become blurred. While some people have no issue differentiating work and personal life, others struggle.
-Establish boundaries. To maintain a good work life balance, you need to establish boundaries with your work. If you continue working, answering emails or phone calls after hours, then you are effectively giving people permission to keep you busy after hours. Set boundaries early in your career to set the standard for how people can communicate with you professionally. The earlier you do this the easier it will be for your colleagues to respect these boundaries.
-Make a list. When preparing for the end of the year, make a checklist with all the things that need to get done before you go on break. Count them off as you approach the final days of work, and anything not completed can be put to action first thing when you return to the office. Worried you’ll miss something? Have a chat with your manager or work mates to find out what is expected of you, or if you’re missing anything.
-Manage your technology. Switch off notifications from work related apps like Outlook or MS Teams. Make sure you turn that red dot on and show as offline, and switch on those out of office auto replies for emailing apps.
-Write down your thoughts. Can’t seem to shake the thoughts of work projects or KPI’s? Write them down. Knowing that you’ve logged your concerns in your notes which can be actioned when you return to work can provide you with a bit more piece of mind, and tells your brain that what ever is troubling you won’t be forgotten. If you still can’t seem to shake these stressors, set notification reminders, or send an email from your personal account to your work one with a list of what to get done.
The festive season often comes with a barrage of expectations, both internal and external. From social gatherings and family events to personal achievements and goals, there can be a lot of pressure to meet certain standards. Setting realistic expectations is crucial to getting through the season with a sense of balance, well-being, and most importantly fun and enjoyment!
-Reduces Stress. Unrealistic expectations can lead to stress and disappointment. By setting realistic outcomes, time spent with friend sand family can alleviate unnecessary pressure and enable you to enjoy the season fully.
-Preserves Mental Health. The holiday season can be emotionally charged. Setting realistic expectations helps manage emotional well-being, preventing burnout and exhaustion.
-Promotes Enjoyment. Realistic expectations allow friends and family to appreciate and enjoy the present moment rather than being preoccupied with unattainable ideas.
How to Set Realistic Expectations
-Reflect on last year. Consider past holiday seasons. What worked well? What caused stress? Remember what went well and what didn’t, set expectations that align with past experiences.
-Talk it Out. Communication is key. Have an open chat with your friends and family about what everyone's expecting. Clear communication can help align everyone's expectations and avoid misunderstandings.
- Embrace Flexibility. Understand that not everything will go as planned. Embrace flexibility and be open to adjusting your plans and expectations as the holidays play out.
Focus on what's Meaningful: Think about what really makes you happy during the festive season. Prioritise the stuff that makes you happy, let go of unnecessary obligations and don’t feel bad about skipping things that don’t.
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