Have you come across the concept of a ‘fake holiday’? That’s how some of my clients describe the holidays during which they work. I’ve had a fair share of those! Haven’t you?

When you’re passionate about what you do AND there are so many problems to solve, it feels like a no-brainer. But there’s also a cost to consistently not switching-off – that of losing your mental clarity, operating at less than your full capacity, and worst-case scenario, eventually burning out.

So how can you think differently about this year’s winter holidays?

A quote to keep in mind

“When we stop and rest properly, we’re not paying a tax on creativity. We’re investing in it.”

– Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of ‘Rest – Why You Get More Done When You Work Less’

How to actually take your holiday

Firstly, try to be intentional about the non-work activities you’d like to engage in. Don’t leave them to chance – research them, commit to them and schedule them in your diary.

Secondly, try to pick a few ‘deep play’ activities which will take your mind off work and give you at least an equal amount of satisfaction.

Here are some examples – hiking, climbing, dancing, painting, sailing, skiing, surfing, reading, writing, robotics, aircraft modelling, playing an instrument or gardening. What would you enjoy the most?