The holidays are right around the corner, which means parties, overindulging in tree-shaped cookies, late nights, braving the busy shopping mall, and other exciting seasonal activities. While many of us look forward to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be draining in every aspect — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It’s common to feel burnt out after the holidays. And losing focusing on your personal goals and self-improvement plans goes hand-in-hand with burnout.
Now is the perfect time to start preparing yourself for what’s ahead while keeping your goals at the forefront of every move you make. Having family visit from out of town, hosting friends for Secret Santa parties, and spending hours wrapping gifts on your living room floor can really derail your mindfulness during the holidays.
Find a balance
It can be easy to dive head-first into holiday celebrations, but in reality, finding balance between rest, productivity, and socialization can be rather helpful. There are many things you can do to promote balance throughout the holiday season, like learning to say “no”. If you’ve always been a “yes” person, changing your approach could be challenging, but the outcome is worth it. During the holidays, you’ll likely be invited to several events that could end up draining your social battery. If you don’t feel like attending one or two of the events, and would rather stay home to recharge, realize that saying “no” is perfectly okay — you need to put your well-being first.
Another way you can find balance during the holidays is by staying on track with your healthy eating and exercise. Overindulging in turkey, potatoes, stuffing, chocolate, and shortbread cookies can put you in a slump, disrupting your productivity and even sleep quality. Try to eat and drink in moderation, sprinkling in a workout here and there so you feel good in your fancy holiday outfits.
Most importantly, take care of yourself and your needs. Holiday season self-care is a must. Schedule some downtime and social media breaks, limit the time you spend traveling by plane or car, stick to a budget for gifts, and incorporate meditation into your daily routine.
How to stay inspired through the holidays
End-of-year motivation can be hard to come by, especially if you’ve been going full-speed-ahead for the last ten months. But there are several things you can do on a daily basis to ensure you’re staying productive:
- Set micro-goals. It’s the holidays, so let’s not get too crazy with goal-setting. Instead of dreaming up massive goals, think about a few smaller, more attainable ones that you can achieve before the end of the year. For example: read two books, meet with your mentor over coffee, and take an online course that you can add to your resume.
- Reflect on personal achievements. Carve some time out of your busy holiday schedule to think about how you’ve grown and what you’ve learned this year. Then, think about what you would have done differently as this will help you along your self-improvement journey.
- Practice mindfulness. There are many ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your routine. You can set aside time for mindful breathing, a mindful walk, body-scan meditation, or some flow yoga. Mindfulness will help you stay grounded throughout the crazy (but fun!) holidays.
- Get your sleep. While a quick glance at your calendar might make this seem impossible, it’s important to have eight hours of rest each night. Lack of sleep can lead to decreased productivity, poor mood, and increased cravings of unhealthy foods.
- Create a festive atmosphere. A little holiday cheer goes a long way! Consider decorating your home or office for the holidays, even if you have to go out and buy a few decorations like a string of lights and a snowman statue. Take things a step further and jam out to some cheerful holiday tunes.
- Maintain your routine. Even though you may be really busy with social commitments, try to keep some of your usual routine. Whether that’s your two-times-a-week spin class, morning coffee as you catch up on the news, or the hour of reading before you go to bed, try to keep up with it.
- Keep learning. Productivity and learning are closely related, and scheduling the time to learn something new every day will keep you motivated. And as soon as you learn a new skill, be sure to put it to use in the real world.
- Take some time off. You deserve a break! Consider booking a few days off around the holidays so that you can focus on what brings you joy.
You’re invited to the 4th annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Gala, taking place on December 14th. It’s a must-attend holiday event and you won’t want to miss out! Secure your early bird spot HERE.
