Where did the year go? That’s what many of us may find ourselves asking right now. As surreal as it may seem, the end of 2024 is just around the corner.
Of course, with the close of the year comes all the fun of the holiday season. It won’t be long before turkeys are in the oven, festive decorations line the streets and carols are ringing over the speakers in every grocery and department store. Your calendar may already be filling up with personal obligations and travel plans, not to mention the usual responsibilities at work and planning for 2025.
During the whirlwind of the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to prioritize your family, well-being and mental health. How can you place healthy boundaries on your personal time while still finishing the year strong at work? Here are three tips.
1. Make time to move your body.
Staying physically active has all kinds of health benefits, and it’s a great way to improve your mood and alleviate stress. Figure out which time of day works best for you to regularly work out, then find a routine you love, be it weightlifting, yoga, running or dance.
Be intentional about consistently blocking time on your calendar for fitness and as you carve out this time for yourself, you’ll feel empowered to tackle whatever hurdles the holidays throw at you. Plus, you’ll establish some healthy habits before the new year even kicks off.
Here at Cox, we have a several benefits geared toward fitness and wellness, including:
- Hybrid work options and flexible work schedules
- State-of-the-art fitness centers on our campuses
- Free access to FitnessOnDemand (a virtual exercise app)
- Healthy lifestyle coaching
- Other digital fitness/nutrition resources
2. Take a midday break
On particularly busy days, you may find yourself tempted to forego an actual lunch break, opting instead to wolf down a salad at your desk while you catch up on emails. But did you know that taking a true midday break may actually help your productivity, as well as your mood?
According to ezCater’s 2024 report, 98% of professionals surveyed say that a lunch break helps them improve their job performance and makes them feel happier and less burned out.
Stepping away from your computer to grab a bite to eat may not initially sound like an earth-shattering productivity hack. But think about the benefits of closing your laptop for an hour. It can give your brain time to rest. It can incorporate movement in your day and open up room for creative thinking. It can boost your mood and give you time to socialize, if you choose to grab lunch with a coworker or a friend (this is a ritual that our in-person employees value highly here at Cox!). And during the holidays, it can be another way to find flexibility.
Learn about Cox's flexible approach to work here.
3. Let go of the illusion of perfection (and completed to-do lists).
You may have heard the quote: “You can’t draw water from an empty well.” It’s an especially meaningful reminder during busy seasons of work and life.
The fact is, you simply may not be able to do it all — and that’s okay.
Life is all about choices; and one important decision you’ll make during the hustle and bustle of the season is determining which tasks need your attention before the end of year, and which ones can be addressed after the holidays. It can be helpful to organize your to-do lists based on level of importance and level of effort so that you can give the right items the attention they deserve and avoid spreading yourself too thin.
Give yourself and others grace as you approach the end of 2024. Look back on all you’ve accomplished with gratitude and celebrate the end of the year with the people you love. Your 2025 self will thank you for reserving time to relax and reenergize!
