I don’t spend a lot of time in rest and recovery mode (other than a consistent full night of sleep, which my body craves). Between work and family, there are more than enough activities to fill my day. Plus, there are several personal projects vying for my attention whenever I do stumble upon a spare hour. That storage room isn’t going to organize itself.
Like me, you may sometimes forget to take time for yourself. Or maybe you prioritize everyone else. This is especially common over the holiday season, which is all about thoughtful generosity and heartwarming connections. But sometimes we get so caught up in giving to others, we neglect one important person: ourselves.
Holiday burnout is real. From the extra holiday tasks to self-imposed expectations, it’s common to feel overwhelmed. One-third of people experience holiday burnout and two-thirds consider the holidays to be stressful. And we can only imagine these feelings are exacerbated this year as many try to balance how to honour tradition while keeping everyone safe and healthy.
As we know all too well, 2020 has been draining.
Not surprisingly, we were feeling the strain across our team here at Clear Concept Inc. last month. Normally, our team is highly motivated and engaged. But like many other teams, we were tired.
So, we decided to invest in ourselves. We cleared our calendars and set our out-of-office messages. We each took a wellness day.
Reluctantly (see paragraph one), I also complied. A good friend decided to whisk me away to a social distancing retreat. No phones allowed. In the days leading up to our getaway, I felt anxious just thinking about it (clearly a sign I needed it).
This day was unlike my typical back-to-back days. We had time to meander through conversations. We took time for ourselves. I read. I meditated. I took a walk through the woods. After lunch, my friend excused herself to take a call. I was tempted to retrieve my phone which was locked up. But I challenged myself to simply be. And this led to a depth of calm I haven’t felt in years.
Are you due for a wellness day? Sadly, far too many vacation days go unused every year. As we draw towards the end of the year, can you gift some time and attention to yourself? Could you put life on pause for one day? No meetings. No deadlines. No emails.
What if you had one day all to yourself? How would you spend your time?
- Sleep in
- Venture out into nature for some forest bathing
- Dive into the book that’s been sitting on your shelf for far too long
- Watch a Netflix show (or series)
- Work on a personal hobby
- Take a long, hot bubble bath
- Catch up with an old friend over a video call
- Get lost in a puzzle
- Break into a spontaneous dance party
- Reignite your love for playing the piano
- Spend extra time meditating, journaling or sitting in gratitude
Admittedly, one day alone cannot overcome chronic stress and burnout. But one day can go a long way towards helping us all feel more refreshed, energized, focused, and resilient.
This may be the most valuable gift you can give.
As an added bonus, this gift has a multiplier effect. When you invest in yourself, you’re better able to show up for everyone else in your life.
How will you invest in yourself this year? Please share and inspire others in the comments below.
P.S. So long, 2020!
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