Productive ways to wind down at the end of the year

December 11, 2019

At the end of the year, most of us get tired and whilst it’s important to keep our minds on work, it’s also wise to spend some time winding down to a restful break. But winding down doesn’t have to be lazy or a waste of time. In fact you can still be productive in the process of getting into holiday mode.


So, here’s a list of all the things you can do to productively wind down!


Listen to a TED Talk or any other inspirational videos


Have people sent you anything recently that would be a ‘must watch!’. Take the time out to be inspired or learn something new.

On that note, listen to a helpful or insightful podcast


You can discover new podcasts all the time that give you useful information or can open your mind to new ways of thinking. Spotify is a great place to start looking as they separate the podcast by category so you can choose whatever you are in the mood for. Politics? Well-being? Work? Crime? Tech? They’ve got something for everything. We are currently enjoying Jay Shetty. Also, the podcast ‘Stuff You Should Know’ – just a whole heap of stuff you probably didn’t know!

Get your files in order


Not your physical files, though they should be in order too (if you have any). But de-clutter your desktop and all your folders. Make sure files are in the right place with the right titles. Think of it as spring cleaning for your computer!


Take your lunch breaks


If you’re one of those people who always eats lunch at their desk or doesn’t get out of the office at all for their lunch… change that. Take the full hour. Go for a walk, get some fresh air, run errands, go shopping, whatever it is, take your full break!

Get coffee with a co-worker


Go out for coffee (or tea or hot choccy) with a co-worker, you may talk about work, but you can talk about other things too. You could go a step further and go for lunch with your team. It’s good to socialise and make time for connecting with others.


Shop for work things


Need a new desk plant? What about some photo frames or a cork board? Maybe you need a new mug or reusable coffee cup… Whatever it is, online shop for it, or physically shop for it. It will be nice to have something new on your desk in the new year.

Decorate your desk


Whatever holiday you celebrate over this time, it doesn’t matter, celebrate and take some time to bring joy to your office by decorating your space. You may be surprised how this helps lift people’s spirits!


Mix up your projects


Do you have one big project that you just know won’t get done by the end of the year? Or do you just need a break? Switch up your projects so that you don’t get bored or unmotivated. You can even ask others if they need help with something you might not usually do. When you do this, you can not only help someone else but also maybe learn a new skill, switch up the way your using your mind and feel a little fresher.


How else do you wind down at the end of the year?

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