2020 is almost over, and I am looking forward to a few weeks of vacation. Work has been busy lately, and a break will help me relax and get a new perspective. Christmas stopped being about presents once I could buy what I wanted when I wanted it. Recently, I value the immaterial much more than the material.
There are always more things to learn or to work on. The list of non-fiction books I “need” to read grows longer every week. There are many new technologies I “need” to learn. That conference I missed just released hours of videos I “need” to watch.
All of that can wait. There is something much more valuable I can do.
The gift I am giving myself this year is time. I will allow myself to be lazy without feeling bad about it. Those few weeks do not need to be productive in any way. Issues at work and plans for the future can wait. There will be time for that in the new year, and it will be much easier if I am not running on empty.
This holiday period, I am taking an intentional break from trying to do too much. If that sounds like you, give yourself permission to recharge. Making plans is much easier with a clear head.
I’d usually recommend a book or podcast about this now. That, too, can wait until next year.
– Dom
Top comments (4)
I feel this way with emails! There are so many emails I get that I NEED to save and read later. Most of them are about blog posts I need to read, talks I need to watch or courses I need to take. It's a tough thing to let go, when you're worried you'll miss something.
Oh yes, I have been there! I started putting those links into one of the read later services like Instapaper or Pocket. Every few weeks, I filter out the articles that weren’t that important after all. That way I decide what I want to read instead of my inbox telling me what to do.
Good on you! It's a hard place to get to. It's probably the most common advice I give out when talking to newer / junior people. You don't have to hop on every new bit, bauble, and tech. Breathe. Sometimes, it is better to put off until tomorrow.
It took me a while to be okay with being intentionally unproductive. If anything shiny comes out while I’m relaxing, I’ll pick it up when I’m back.