Want to Get Ahead in 2017? 20 Productive Things to Do During Your Holiday Downtime at Work
The holidays are a time for family, festivities and much-needed rest. But amidst the celebrations and slower work pace, it‘s also a golden opportunity to set yourself up for success in the new year. The key is using your holiday downtime at the office intentionally.
While your coworkers are battling food comas and fiddling with their new gadgets, you can be planting the seeds for a productive and fulfilling 2017. In fact, a recent survey by OfficeTeam found that 22% of workers say they get more done during the holidays when their workplace is quieter.
So how can you make this holiday lull work to your advantage? Here are 20 ideas to inspire you to spend your downtime in ways that will enrich your career and life.
Sharpen Your Skills
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Complete an online course or certification. Sites like Lynda.com, Udemy and Coursera offer tons of on-demand courses on professional skills like project management, data science, digital marketing and graphic design. Find one that aligns with your goals and commit to finishing before the year ends.
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Master an in-demand tool. Become an expert at a tool that will boost your productivity and marketability. Some ideas: Advanced Excel, SQL, Adobe Creative Suite, Tableau, Google Analytics.
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Beef up your writing muscles. Strong business writing skills are invaluable regardless of your field. Take an online course or find writing prompts online to practice crafting clear, compelling memos, reports and emails.
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Learn to code. Having even basic coding knowledge can open doors in your career. Try a free tutorial from Codecademy or FreeCodeCamp to see if it sparks your interest. Dedicate an hour a day and you‘ll make solid progress by 2017.
Get Organized
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Clean out your inbox. Sort, file and purge your emails so you can start the year fresh. Unsubscribe from any lists that no longer provide value. Set up filters to automatically route important messages. Inbox zero, here you come!
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Update your work calendar. Block off time for key projects, meetings and deadlines for the upcoming quarter. Don‘t forget to account for any planned days off.
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Declutter your workspace. A tidy desk makes for a tidy mind. Take a couple hours to clear the piles of paper, old Post-Its and mystery cords. Wipe down surfaces, organize supplies and add a plant or inspiring art for good measure.
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Review and refine your processes. Identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies in how you currently get work done. Map out your daily workflows and brainstorm ways to streamline or automate. Even small tweaks can add up to major productivity gains.
Plan for the Future
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Set bold goals. What do you want to achieve professionally in the next year? Think both big picture and practical milestones. Write down your goals and post them where you‘ll see them daily. Then schedule time to revisit and assess your progress monthly.
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Create a career bucket list. Let yourself dream beyond just the next year. What are the big, audacious things you want to experience, learn and achieve in your career? Giving yourself permission to imagine your ideal work life can be hugely motivating. Aim for at least 10 items.
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Explore new opportunities. Think about what new challenges you‘re ready to tackle. Are there projects or committees you could join? A professional organization to get involved with? Don‘t wait for things to fall in your lap. Proactively seek out chances to stretch your skills and widen your network.
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Research professional events. Look for upcoming conferences, workshops, lunch & learns or networking events relevant to your field. Many organizations offer early bird discounts, so planning ahead pays off. Map out which ones you‘ll pitchto your boss and block off the dates.
Invest in Self-Care
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Start a mindfulness practice. A wealth of research shows that mindfulness can improve focus, memory and emotional intelligence – all key to peak performance at work. Start small with just 5 minutes of meditation or deep breathing each day. Apps like Headspace and Calm can help you stay on track.
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Schedule "untouchable" time. High performers know the importance of guarding their time and attention. Put blocks on your calendar each week for focused work, learning, exercise and pure rest. Treat them as non-negotiable appointments.
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Find an accountability buddy. Share your goals with a trusted colleague and commit to keeping each other on track. Meet up regularly to report on progress, brainstorm solutions to challenges and cheer each other on.
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Read an inspiring book. Feed your mind and soul with an uplifting or thought-provoking read. Need ideas? Check out "The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor, "Deep Work" by Cal Newport or "Give and Take" by Adam Grant.
Cultivate Connections
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Nurture your network. Reach out to valued colleagues, mentors, clients and contacts to share holiday greetings. Mention an article or idea made you think of them. Let them know how much you appreciate them.
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Reconnect with a former colleague. We all have people we used to work with that we lost touch with over time. The holidays are a natural reason to reach out and rekindle the relationship. Invite them for coffee or send a thoughtful email to let them know you‘d love to reconnect in the new year.
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Help someone else. Few things are more fulfilling than lifting up others. Look for opportunities to make an introduction, give feedback, share your expertise or be a sounding board. Bonus: Research shows that giving social support may boost your work performance too.
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Join a mastermind group. Surrounding yourself with positive, ambitious peers is one of the best things you can do for your career. Look for an existing group or consider starting your own. Meet regularly to swap ideas, troubleshoot issues and hold each other accountable to your goals.
Savor Your Success
Using your work downtime wisely is all about striking a balance. Yes, definitely recharge your batteries and enjoy some well-deserved rest. But sprinkling in some meaningful progress on things that matter to you will make that time off even sweeter.
As the saying goes, luck favors the prepared. By investing just a few purposeful hours during your holiday lull, you‘ll kick off 2017 in a powerful position to make it your best year yet. So go ahead, sip that eggnog andcross a few items off this list. Your future self will thank you!
