It’s that time of year – the holiday season.

We all may celebrate different holidays, but I believe we all use this time of year to relax, recharge, and prepare for the new year. New challenges lie ahead and we must be ready for a busy, electric new year that will require the most out of us.

So what’s the best way to spend your holidays in order to feel refreshed, but also keep you sharp and alert. You need to relax, but also be prepared for January 2nd, when you will be required to jump back into action. I don’t know if there’s a true correct answer, but we compiled our favorite results from some of the professionals we had the chance to speak with.

Carve out a day (or more) to do nothing.

“I work with owners and executives who are so ambitious and goal-driven that they can’t help but still infuse goals and plans into their off days. Several of my more driven patients also use alcohol to slow their minds down. That can work for a moment, but it’s a rather inflexible and forceful way of finding relief. It’s more restorative and reliable to learn to truly shift the way your mind operates.

The holidays are a good time to not only have a break from work but a break from a productive mindset. A good challenge is to carve out a day or more to do nothing… no agenda, no expectation. That can be uncomfortable because it feels like such a “waste of time.” But it’s important to create voids of agenda and time in order to properly sense where we are in life, which in turn helps us sense our needs and desires. If you drink or keep too busy, you’re robbing yourself of the chance to notice where you are in life, restore, and develop as a person.”

-Daniel Hochman, M.D, a board-certified Psychiatrist and the creator of SelfRecovery.org.

Read as much as you can.

“In my opinion, reading is the best way to rest your mind while simultaneously keeping it sharp and alert.

Reading a book – a real, physical book; not a screen – can do so much for you and is able to positively impact your life in a number of ways. You learn; you calm your body; you stimulate your mind; you get your eyes away from technology; and you drag your mind away from anything that might be causing your stress and/or anxiety.

This holiday season, I plan on reading a few books and I recommend you do it as well.”

-Daniel Climans, the Senior Manager of Digital Marketing & Partnerships at StickerYou.

Treat your body well and take care of it

“Your body and mind are so tightly connected that everything you do with have an impact, good or bad. If you eat poorly and fail to get the appropriate amount of exercise, it will negatively impact you. If you are sluggish with your body over the holiday season, your mind will be sluggish when you attempt to return to work.

Keep your body active and your mind will benefit from it.

Also, watch what you put in your body. Poor decisions on what you eat and drink will affect both your body and mind, so don’t let this be to your detriment. Eat well, exercise regularly, and fuel your body. It will feel like you never stopped working once your holidays come to an end.”

-Rahul Jha, the Managing Director and CEO at Legal Entity Identifier.

Use paper & pen to write about the previous year.

“I agree that you need to get away from work during the holidays, but it is also the perfect time to reflect on the previous year. After a few days of separation from my work, I can think of it differently and come up with new perspectives.

In these periods of time, I grab a pen and paper, then sit down. I write down any thoughts I have on the previous year and what the next 12 months might look like. It is almost always effective and provides me with new insight on what I might be doing. You’d be surprised how effective a little bit of separation from work combined with a simple pen and paper can be.”

-David Curtis, an experienced professional and the Founder of Blue Pig Media.

Visit the rest of our blog to read more about how you can take advantage of the holidays and have the best year ever in 2023!