Work and a
busy schedule can take a lot out of a person. Thankfully, the holidays are a
great time to slow down, recharge, spend time seeing your loved ones, and do
things you wouldn't normally have time to do.
7
Productive Things to Do During Your Holidays
1 1.Schedule all your appointments.
Go see your
doctor, your dentist, and your barber or hair stylist. Take your pet to the vet
for a check-up. Get the oil changed in your car. Think of all those minor
inconveniences you just can't seem to get to when you're on your regular
schedule, and check them off the list.
2. Call your long-distance friends.
You know
that list of friends and family members you've been meaning to catch up with,
but never seem to find the time? Open your phone, find a comfortable spot to
sit, and give them a call with your full attention. Now's the perfect time to
connect with people you don't see regularly but want to stay in touch with.
3. Start building a habit.
Some say it
takes 21 days to build a habit. Others say it takes a lot longer. But exactly
how long it takes doesn't really matter. The point is, you have to put the work
in up front if you want a habit to stick. So why not use the holidays to get
started?
Whether you
want to start flossing every day or writing in a journal before bed each night,
take the time during your downtime to start habit-forming and set yourself up
for success.
4) Catch up
on reading.
Here's a
classic but essential vacation tip: сatch up on those books or articles you've
been wanting to get to so badly. It's really hard to find time to read when
you're busy with work, but now that you're on vacation, you can cuddle up with
a blanket and a book.
4. Volunteer.
Serving
others has a long list of intangible benefits, like pride, satisfaction,
accomplishment, connections with others, strengthening your community, and
improving the lives of others. There are health benefits, too: Along with
social benefits, a growing body of research shows there's a strong relationship
between volunteering and physical health.
Don't have
a specific cause in mind? Check out your local library, youth centre, animal
shelter, homeless shelter, or hospital to see if they're in need of volunteers.
5. Find a
quiet space to let your mind wander.
When we're
deep in our work routines, it can be hard to tear ourselves away from our
immediate tasks and goals. But not removing ourselves from these things can
mean we miss out on seeing interesting new connections and developing
innovations. This is especially true during the busy weeks leading up to the
holidays.
Take some
time to remove yourself from your day-to-day - to be alone and reflect.
Daydream about being your own customer, or your competitor, or what it's like
to be the product you produce. Analyze how you've been spending your time over
the past few months and whether you'd like to make changes.
6. Get exercise in.
I'm not
going to get into the benefits of exercise (or we'd be here for a while), but
the holiday season is an especially hard time to keep a consistent workout
routine. Factors like cooler temperatures, less daylight, busy travel
schedules, and food-oriented gatherings can all throw off your schedule. But
staying active -- even just a little bit each day -- can be easy and fun. The
American Heart Association recommends 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three to
four times per week.
Not an
athlete? Physical activity doesn't have to be intense. Find an activity like
walking, vacuuming -- heck, even shopping -- that gets the blood flowing.
Something is always better than nothing.
7) Set goals for next term .
Setting
goals gives you a baseline for measuring success, and the motivation to stay on
course when things get crazy.
To get more
specific, you can break larger goals into smaller ones by month. If you want to
really dig in to your goals and ground them in reality, try setting SMART goals
(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound) and make a plan
for staying on course.
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