Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

5 Ways to Relax and Recharge During the Holidays Spend time with family, but get your rest too.

By Thai Nguyen Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

During the holidays, with all the feasting and family, it's easy to forget to actually rest. Holidays can be a triple-threat against entrepreneurs -- travel and socializing can wear you out, your mind is unable to disconnect from work, or you may even lose motivation to go back to work. On the other hand, intentional and mindful rest during the holiday season can be the most effective time you have. Here are five ways to relax and recharge even as you celebrate.

1. Start with solitude.

This is especially important for introverts. If you don't prepare yourself mentally each morning for the socializing and stimulation, you'll be running on empty for the holiday season. How you start your day will set the trajectory for the rest of the day. Adopt a morning ritual to clear your mind and mentally prepare yourself.

Related: 6 Ways to Use the Holiday Season to Your Advantage

2. Breathe, reframe, redirect.

Interacting with family and friends you haven't seen in a while can be a recipe for disaster. Make the decision to be responsive rather than reactive. People get angry and offended when comments or opinions become overly internalized. But it's not always about you. A simple technique is to externalize frustrations -- take a breath, then reframe anything negative as an issue that has to do with the other person rather than you. This isn't license to shift blame when you're at fault, but it's good to remember that you're not always the problem.

Related: Keep Calm and Holiday On: How to Plan for the Holidays Year-Round

3. Intentional gratitude.

Make the holidays a time to strengthen relationships. Giving someone a hug and telling them why you're grateful for them causes your brain to release the "love" hormone, oxytocin. It's also a good time to reconnect with old friends and mentors. Take some time to send appreciative emails and handwritten cards.

4. Get outside.

If weather permits, getting outdoors in nature has many health benefits, including lowering your stress levels and blood pressure. It can even help you become more creative. After all the eating, get some fresh air and go for a walk rather than lounge on the couch.

Related: As 2016 Winds Down, It's Time to Plan For The New Year

5. End with reflecting.

Another brain chemical, serotonin, is released whenever you reflect on meaningful events and achievements from the past. Take time at the end of the day to think through people and personal accomplishments that you're grateful for. Revisit the "why" behind your work -- the people who inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals. Visualizing these events will fuel and energize you to get back to work after the holiday season.

Thai Nguyen

Writer & Editor: TheUtopianLife.com

Thai Nguyen writes concise strategies to live a productive life, based off the latest scientific research. You can follow his work at TheUtopianLife.com or connect with him on Twitter and Facebook

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

You Have One Month Left to Buy a House, According to Barbara Corcoran. Here's Why.

"If you are planning on waiting a year and seeing where interest rates go, you are out of your mind," Corcoran said.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business Solutions

Cut Costs, Not Features with This Microsoft Bundle Deal

You get Office, Windows, Project, and Visio for $72.

Thought Leaders

These 3 Trends Will Change What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur in 2025

Here are three entrepreneurship trends from the new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report that are changing the landscape for the future.

Side Hustle

I Made $14,000 in 1 Week With a Spontaneous Halloween Costume Side Hustle — Here's How

Sabba Keynejad was in art school when he started to refine his entrepreneurial skills.

Franchise

The McRib Is Back, But Only at Select McDonald's — Here's Where to Find It

This scarcity is nothing new. In 2022, McDonald's announced a "Farewell Tour" for the McRib, suggesting that it might be the last time customers could get their hands on it.