[Competition] Wrike's Holiday Countdown 2023 - Day 1

Cuddle up with my blank and watch Hallmark Holiday movies and leave reality for awhile.

Taking breaks during the work day is a challenge for me. But, when I manage to walk away I typically go for a walk, take deep breaths, and try to clear my head. Of course, half the time I end up coming up with an idea or solution for a project/problem and rush back to my computer. When I work from home, I will sometimes do food prep, cooking is my zin time. 

For the holidays, I'm fortunate that our office will be closed for most of my time off. That doesn't mean that people aren't sending in more work requests, but they are fewer. I usually schedule/plan time to check-in on emergencies and catch up with emails so that I can completely check out for the rest of the holidays and enjoy family and some real down time. 

I enjoy listening to Christmas music while working on a puzzle. It's relaxing and a great way to unwind!

When taking a break from work, I love to spend time with family and friends enjoying good food and great conversation. I also like to spend time outdoors (weather permitting) walking/hiking with my dog and playing golf!

Being remote and work at a different time zone, I get to wind up my work early afternoon, hence unwinding organically happens the moment I get back to pick up kids and continue my day with them. Yet I engage myself in group yoga, Pilates, workout classes on a strict schedule.

Grab a leash and take this Goober for a walk! We both benefit and feel much better after some fresh air! 

Let people know that you will be out of office ahead of time. If people know, then we can plan together how to ensure that we hold ourselves to taking a break. Don't assume that everyone knows your time off schedule. Include this time on your calendar and plans in Wrike so it is transparent when you are out of office.

To unwind during my break at work, I live close to the office so I go home on my lunch break. I get to see my dogs, eat my lunch in the comfort of my own home and get away from the office for an hour so I can come back refreshed.

Work:  I make sure everything is done, as well as future things complete.  This helps when I leave, as well as when I come back, not to feel overwhelmed. 

Personal:  I do not open my lap top (unless an emergency arises - which is rare (knock on wood)).  Make/eat good food, take naps, and enjoy the company with my dogs and husband. 

To keep peace of mind I aim for inbox zero by EOD before I leave and since I don't have any apps or work email on my personal devices I truly have time to disconnect to focus on being present with family and friends.

I like to take a walk with my dog or have lunch with a family member to clear my mind midway through the day. This helps me to feel refreshed for the afternoon of meetings. 

I've worked on making the unwind process somewhat of a habit. I leave work and go to the gym, a great way to work out any frustrations from the day. Then typically it's dinner at home and catching up on some shows or trying new illustration styles on my iPad. An hour before bed, it's a no-screen time hour where I make a cup of tea and read before going to bed. These habits have helped me unwind and let me creatively recharge each night. I also agree with many of the other comments about using PTO and turning off notifications, I like to set up a chain of command that way any problem has to get through 3 people before I'm contacted as a last resort.

Unwinding at work? Sounds like an oxymoron - but I bring in special teas and hot cocoa (things I don't normally drink during the work day), and enjoy a cup on my breaks (which I make sure I take away from my desk). It feels like a small luxury...

It's so hard to unwind and unplug for the purpose of recharging. I'm afraid I have never been very good at doing it completely. But when I really want to disconnect from work, I put my phone on silent and leave it in my closet for awhile so I can spend time with my family uninterrupted. 

Meditation, yoga, music & art 🌞

I definitely turn off all my work things so I can just disconnect

I like to go on a walk to decompress. I don't talk on the phone or listen to music while I do, I just try to commune with nature and reconnect with my creativity and flow. The fresh air and movement help get my juices flowing and help me think more big picture. I usually have more ideas by the time I sit back down!

Work: Before leaving for any time off, I ensure all my inboxes are taken care of. I make a list of important items to be addressed and the manuals on how to do so. My OOO indicates whom to contact if an urgent issue comes up.

Home: I am very organized and try to get tasks completed on time. Taking walks outside, going out with friends and quiet time at home reading or watercolour painting help me to unwind and decompress. A healthy diet, enough sleep, and a positive outlook are key to a healthy home & work life. :) 

When I feel the need for a break, I take 15-20 minutes and go down to the basement where my electronic drum kit is. Here, I do a couple of workouts and play a song, releasing physical tension. This helps me stay in tune with my instrument and regain relaxation and focus to return to work more energized than before!🥁🎶

I block out my calendar and schedule my out-of-office in advance to include back-up contacts and process, and then I shut down my laptop and set my messenger to quiet days on my phone. 

For the holidays, I have a special playlist that I put on while doing chores and hanging around the house; I also decorate and write/mail cards, and I look up recipes for sweets and cozy meals.

Hallmark Holiday Movies and hang with family 

A quick break to take my dog on a walk and get some Vitamin C is a great refresher. I also love hiking and mountain biking and cycling. If I can take an hour break during the day, I grab my bike and head out for a quick ride or up the canyon for a short hike. The fresh air and exercise renews my energy and calms my brain so I can get back to focus on my work! 

Been working on laying the groundwork to give myself AND my team a break. Someone above mentioned that the trick is figuring out what MUST be me vs. someone else. I'm just extending that same principle. What MUST be my team and must be done now, vs. what's a January problem. For me, peace of mind is the only way I can really disconnect and unwind. And when I do, it's British mysteries and hot tea! 

I've found that keeping work and personal lives separate is easier with work and personal computers - when I'm not at work, I don't look at work things and the computer is asleep in my bag. I do sometimes send myself reminders, but I try to have a clear delineation between the two so I can focus on family and be present with them.

As someone who has previously had work emails and notifications linked up to my personal phone, I've come to appreciate the value of being unplugged. No more checking work messages; just me, my book and scalding hot coffee.

I like to unwind by taking a daily walk. Really helps to clear away the cobwebs and seeing any blue sky or sun is always a bonus! When I get home eating a delicious dinner and lighting a candle always melts away the stress. 

Unwind During The Workday...I take about 10 mins or so to walk around outside or enjoy a snack with my coffee. 

Watch comedy series to laugh, laughing is life.

My dogs tend to let me know when I need a short break.   They have beds in the office with me and periodically one of them comes to me and jumps in my lap for a long HUG, they insist on it and they seem to know when I need it.   Hugs from my fur babies provide me with a moment to relax and change what I'm thinking about and definitely provides me with an opportunity to just be in the moment and connect with them.   After a few minutes I'm ready to hit the ground running again with work!

I love to read a book!