4 Ways to make the most of your downtime over the Easter break
If work, study or home projects haven’t gone as planned or been completed yet this year, that’s ok. Focus on the positives gained so far and try not to brood on things that are out of your control. Understand that each and every experience brings forth new opportunities for personal growth and learning.
1. Reflect on all the positive things you’ve achieved so far this year
Go back through your diary, calendar or completed to-do lists and take a look at all the remarkable goals, both large and small, that you’ve accomplished already this year. Remind yourself of study units completed, gigs or festivals attended, places visited, the amazing people you’ve encountered and challenges overcome. Pat yourself on the back for business wins. Reflect on the lessons learnt from an initiative that fell short. Practising mindfulness and gratitude for the various things in life which bring you happiness can leave you feeling uplifted and ready to keep moving forward with a sense of vitality.
2. Start planning and smash out tasks early on/strong>
Don’t waste your time off frantically running errands. After all, you’ll be back at work or study before you know it!
Getting a little organised beforehand and it’ll really feel like a holiday! You might:
Try getting easy, mundane chores like laundry out the way on a work night leading up to the weekend – instead of them being your number one priority on your first day off.
3. Step away from the smartphone and be present
The holidays bring along the opportunity to socialise with the people who matter most – so put down your phone, or any other electronic device, and pay attention.
If you get a chance to escape over the break, don’t look at where you are as the perfect photograph for your Instagram feed. Enjoy it for the moment that you’re in it, immerse yourself in foreign surroundings, explore and take in new knowledge. Share the experience in person with others later – much more fulfilling.
4. Set realistic goals for the year ahead
Whether it concerns your work, study, career or health, set aside a little time to brainstorm and create a realistic timeframe to achieve your goals for 2016. If you’re thinking about studying at some point next year, use this time to explore your course options.
If you’re in a work rut and not too sure what you can do to further your career, use the holiday period to rest, recover and think about ways to improve your working life. You can cover a lot of ground in half an hour of uninterrupted thought.
You might consider:
- Getting a Career Check-up. Evaluating your skills and experience can leave you better placed to determine your path to an improved working life.
- Think about updating your resume
- Upskill by choosing a vocational qualification
Other ways to maximise your time off:
- Don’t succumb to the pressure of seeing everyone, especially if it’s purely out of obligation, you could spend half your long weekend driving to places you don’t really want to go
- Find a little space for a ‘you’ pastime – 4 days should be enough to see whether that hobby you’ve been meaning to try out is something you’ll keep pursuing
- Have some fun in the kitchen, try something out of the ordinary instead of the usual rushed meals
- Keep a journal and write a paragraph a day about anything that springs to mind
- Meditate, practise deep breathing or perform yoga for renewed focus and a clearer mindset
- It’s Easter – there’ll be chocolate – ward off indulgence guilt by keeping active with some regular light exercise
- Thank yourself for making the most of your time off