Give Yourself a Break Did you know that taking breaks actually improves your productivity? To combat holiday stress, take breaks during the day and rest when your body tells you to. Even 15 minutes can re-energize and rejuvenate you. Study after study has shown that human beings are not built to continuously work. Just like a machine or car, running non-stop with no rest or tune-up will cause a breakdown. According to a study by Kronos, 95% of Human Resources professionals are concerned about the impact of employee burnout and the APA has stated that it costs employers $300 billion dollars per year in lost productivity and turnover. Things become heightened with all the extra things that need to get done for the holidays and the added emotions. Taking the right kind of breaks can renew your energy, allow you to make better decisions, be more creative and concentrate more fully on the task at hand. In addition, it allows you to be more present when interacting with others, thus improving relationships. When you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays, do something calming like:
Take a bath
Read a good book
Unplug from your electronic devices
Pet the dog/cat
Meditate
Take a nap
Get a massage
Listen to your favorite music
Take a walk at night and star gaze
Doodle
Laugh
I encourage you to give these ideas a try and would love to hear how it goes. Please contact me if you would like to learn more about my stress management workshops for employees or individual resilience coaching. Wishing you all the best for a peaceful holiday season!