Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Give yourself a break: You deserve it

by December 17, 2024
December 17, 2024
Give yourself a break: You deserve it

If you’re hurtling like a juggernaut towards year end with a demanding ‘To Do’ list flashing before your eyes as soon as your head hits the pillow, you are not alone.

2024 has been a year of upheaval, with the UK and US elections, a new UK government, and the Autumn Budget, all fuelling uncertainty. Add to that the whirlwind of client lunches, festive drinks, networking events, meetings, deadlines, planning sessions, and the annual rush of gift buying, school nativities, and hosting duties, and suddenly, the “most wonderful time of the year” might not feel so wonderful.

With all these demands, it might be a challenge to switch off over the festive season, but, as a leader, you owe it to yourself, your team, and your family to do just that.

Beware the monkeys

Unlike certain animals, we can’t go into full hibernation mode at this time of year, but we can still go that little bit easier on ourselves. By allowing some time to stop, rest and reflect on where we’re at and where we want to be, we can emerge stronger, with a fresh perspective and renewed vigour.

In a poll carried out by Mental Health UK, 77% of people felt their mental health worsened at Christmas. It’s not surprising when you consider the enormous pressure to tie up all those frustrating loose ends at work, on top of whatever is going on at home.

And while it may be tempting to rid ourselves of that annoying ‘monkey on our shoulder’ by delegating a task or problem onto others, it’s probably a better idea to consider whether these ‘monkeys’ are genuinely urgent. If not, write it down and deal with it in the new year. Don’t let the monkey put you off your Christmas dinner!

The right to switch off

With 57% of UK employees said to work either ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ while on annual leave, leaders must also advocate for the whole team to actively step away from emails and disconnect from work as much as possible while on holiday.

That means you too!

Such is the pressure to be ‘always on’ and the increasingly blurred lines between home and work due to remote and hybrid working, the Labour government is set to introduce measures around the ’Right to Switch Off’ in the next phase of their ‘Make Work Pay Plan’.

Get ahead of those changes and start implementing your own guidance around the proposed policy now. And try to practice what you preach. Will it be easy? Probably not, but whether it’s locking your phone away completely or limiting yourself to certain check-in times, resisting the urge to be constantly ‘on’ will gradually get easier and make a genuine difference to your work/life balance.

All is calm, all is bright

Mental Health UK’s “Burnout Report 2024” found that one in five UK workers took time off due to stress. In addition, independent research from Breathe reveals that only 35% use their full annual leave, yet 58% would take up to five extra unpaid days if offered. A gap that highlights a serious disconnect between what employees need and what they feel is acceptable.

But here’s the twist – giving employees the freedom to take time off when they need it can work wonders. Studies show that using annual leave can boost productivity by up to 40%, reduce fatigue and irritability, and cut sick leave by 28%.

Employers must therefore foster a culture where taking time off is not only encouraged but is genuinely guilt-free. Remember that not everyone celebrates the festive season, so offering flexibility in holiday scheduling can be another plus point for your team.

By leading by example, employers can cultivate a healthier, more productive workplace, laying the foundation for long-term success. So, take that break and enjoy some well-deserved, guilt-free time off!

Give thanks…to yourself too!

Let’s not forget that this season is, primarily, a time for celebration. Recognise those wins, irrespective of challenges, and give yourself a pat on the back!

And it’s not just about work. Personal achievements and objectives count too. Aiming for that illusive balance is critical to our wellbeing and something most of us need to improve on. Whether it’s pottery or skydiving, perhaps 2025 is the year to finally take up that new hobby?

In summary

Embrace the reality that not everything will be perfectly sown up by the end of the year, and that’s totally fine!

Focus on what truly matters and let the rest take a back seat. Encourage your team to do the same and lighten the collective load. This approach will leave everyone feeling brighter and you’ll return in the new year healthier, happier, and more energised.

This season, set the example and remind your team how important it is to take time for themselves. Above all, give yourself permission to rest, celebrate what’s been achieved, and aim for a better work/life balance in the year ahead.

You deserve it!

Read more:
Give yourself a break: You deserve it

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Questioning the Housing Crisis: Demand Matters Too
next post
Congress unveils bill to avert Friday government shutdown with over $100B in disaster aid

You may also like

 Jungle murals for the wall as an idea...

December 27, 2022

Greggs announce 160 new branch openings

January 10, 2024

Telefónica Tech Determines The Cybersecurity Environment Alterations Amidst...

August 16, 2023

Current economic climate is worse than during the...

September 21, 2022

Windfall tax to be suspended if energy prices...

June 9, 2023

Essential Jewelry for Every Woman

April 24, 2024

UK Hotel Pricing Tech Firm Lighthouse Becomes Latest...

November 25, 2024

Amazon Christmas marketing push pays off with higher...

February 3, 2023

Mind Meets Market: 7 Surprising Parallels Between Psychology...

April 6, 2024

Pound hits fresh 37-year low against dollar

September 22, 2022

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Trump warns of ‘serious consequences’ if Elon Musk funds Democrats

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk jokes about reconsidering stance on Big Beautiful Bill after Schiff’s praise

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk deletes explosive posts about Trump and Epstein files

      June 7, 2025
    • House witness flips script on Dem who ambushed him during hearing with unearthed tweet: ‘Iceberg is ahead’

      June 7, 2025
    • Call with China’s Xi, and Trump-Musk exchange fueled barbs during 20th week in office

      June 7, 2025
    • Trump’s conservative allies warn Congress faces critical ‘test’ with $9.4B spending cut proposal

      June 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,152)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,568)
    • Stocks (3,136)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved