6 ways to have the best break from business this winter

By Felicia Guthrie

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s important as a business owner or entrepreneur to take a break. This can be difficult for many reasons, especially if the holiday season is a valuable time for your industry, after all it’s a major consumer holiday. When you add any employees you may have into the mix, you’ll want to show them you appreciate them and their time as well, so of course, it’s only right you give them a bit of a break too.

How do you take a break and peel yourself away from work? Check out our blogs on 6 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays and 6 Ways to Take a Business Break Over the Holidays to help you get things in order before you take time off.

When you do finally take time off, you want to make sure you make the most of it whether it’s relaxing and recharging for when you get back or having a bit more fun. Whatever you decide, here are five ways to make the most of your holiday break.

#1: GET CREATIVE

Just because you’re taking a break from working, doesn’t mean you can’t be productive or get creative. You can do a variety of things to get creative like working on a passion project or spending some time painting, crafting, writing or drawing. Taking a break from your usual work to get creative is a great way to spend your time because not only does it allow you to express yourself, but it can also help boost your mood and relieve stress!

#2: TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR PHONE

Smartphones are great, they connect us to each other and to endless information. That doesn’t mean you need to be constantly scrolling through your social media accounts, or checking your WhatsApp every minute. Taking a break from your phone allows you to live in the moment and develop deeper connections to those around you.

#3: CATCH SOME Z’S

Many times, people will compromise a full night's sleep. Maybe you’ve had some long and/or late work nights, you’re preoccupied with family, running around for the holidays, or maybe have just been plugging away at other things causing you to miss some valuable shut eye. Taking some time to get some extra sleep is a great way to make the most of your break.

This could mean heading to bed a few hours earlier or taking a quick nap. Did you know that sleep experts have found that an afternoon nap can increase alertness, boost creativity and reduce stress, among other benefits? A good night’s sleep will also lead to an increase in alertness, boosts creativity, better memory recall, and more!

#4: PLAN A DAY OUT

During the holidays there are tons of events, from holiday markets, to pop-ups and more, there are so many festive and seasonal things that you can do for a fun day out. You can also spend a day or weekend doing winter activities like skiing and snowboarding. Taking a break from work to do something fun can reenergize and even inspire you.

#5: INVEST IN SOME SELF-CARE

Doing something that promotes a healthy mind and body may look a little different to everyone, and we’ve hit on some universal ways to take care of yourself (sleep!), but they’re all important. Maybe that means getting a much-needed message, cutting back on junk food, clearing your mind with some time outside, or exercising or maybe it means incorporating a few of these things into your day. Figure out what self-care means to you and pump it up during your break.

#6: VOLUNTEER

Volunteering is a great way to spend some of your spare time, especially during the holidays. There are so many opportunities to volunteer. For example, you can help in an animal shelter or serve meals in a soup kitchen. Not only does volunteering impact the lives of others, but it can also reduce stress, increases your self-confidence, and helps you make new friends and contacts! Feel free to invite friends, family, and even plan work events around volunteering!

Hopefully, you’ll now feel more confident to take a step away from your business. Remember, taking a break once in a while is necessary, the last thing you want is to burn out.

How are you preparing to take a break and how will you be making the most of your time off?