5 Ways to Recharge and Boost Your Career Over the Holidays

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to be proud of all you’ve accomplished. Whether you received a promotion, completed a successful internship, or reached some other professional or personal milestone, it’s important to take time to acknowledge your achievements and congratulate yourself on a job well done. It’s also important, as the year comes to a close, to begin thinking about your goals for the coming year. So, here are five ways to celebrate your achievements and prepare for 2023.

1. Unplug

If you’re part of the corporate world, you’ve likely spent countless hours glued to a computer screen this year. Once you put that out of office reply on your email for the holidays, it’s time to close the laptop and embrace the fact that you did it. Better yet, turning off all work notifications can help guarantee that your time won’t be interrupted, and you can fully enjoy your well deserved break. Don’t worry, everything will still be there for you when you return next year, but for now, enjoy the extra time you have on your hands.

2. Recharge

Once you’ve unplugged, it can be a good idea to spend your time-off doing the things you’ve put off due to work or other obligations. This could mean doing that DIY project on your apartment or house that you started months ago and never finished. You could also attend that yoga class that’s always been scheduled before your work day ends. And if you weren’t able to visit friends and family during your industry’s busy season, you could take the chance now to catch up with loved ones. For some, this is a great time to catch up on the simple luxury of sleeping in without an alarm. Whatever recharging looks like for you, this is the time to do it. Focusing on things that better your mind and body will help ensure you’re ready to hit the ground running when you return to work. 

3. Create a vision board 

Just because you aren’t answering emails and managing projects over the holidays, that doesn’t mean work can’t be on your mind at all. Once you’ve taken a step back from the pressure of everyday work-life, reflect on what you want next year to look like. One way of doing this is by creating a vision board. A vision board is typically a collage of pictures that help you visualize your goals and what you want your life to look like; whether that be your personal life or professional life. When setting these goals, focus on what you truly think you can accomplish in the next year.

And keep it realistic. If you put the goal of becoming a billionaire on there, when you get to the end of next year, you may be disappointed in the realization it takes longer than a year to do that. More realistic  ideas you can put on there include changing careers, getting a new job, earning a promotion, spending more time traveling, saving up for your first home, or even simply moving into that bigger office. If you’re a student, your goals could include getting a jump start on your career. This includes setting the goal of getting an internship next year, taking more classes specific to your major, or visualizing walking across that graduation stage with a job already lined up. While you’re intentionally setting your goals, you’re also unlocking your creative side with a little craft.

4. Network 

If you’re socializing with family and friends, take this as a chance to turn the conversation from Christmas gifts to career guidance. Pick the brains of your family members whose careers you want to learn more about. These conversations can unlock new career paths, job opportunities, or even more people you can connect with. 

Of course, your holiday networking can extend past your relatives and into your professional connections. Given that most of the corporate world has more time on their hands, it’s a great time to reconnect with people you might not have spoken to in a while. You can ask them about how Q4 went for them, as well as about what they think of your goals for the upcoming year. 

This time also allows you to dig deeper into new potential connections. Do your research and see who you’d like to connect with, and don’t be afraid to send that first networking message. If you’re in the midst of a job search, connecting with current employees who work at companies you have your eyes on is a great way to get an inside scoop into the workplaces you’re interested in joining. 

5. Revisit your resume

With the extra down time you have, take a look at your job application materials. If you’re on the hunt for a new job, this time allows you to dedicate your attention to these items without having to bounce back to your current job the next day. Even if you aren’t actively looking for a new job, it’s always a good idea to have your resume up-to-date if an unexpected opportunity arises. Updating your resume sooner rather than later helps ensure you haven’t forgotten any of your previous job responsibilities to put on there. 

You can also update your social media presence. This might mean adding to your LinkedIn profile to make it more powerful or cleaning up your social media presence to prepare for potential interviews in the new year. You don’t want to dwell on these tasks during the busy part of the year, so take advantage of your time off now. 

Holiday breaks don’t have to be entirely dedicated to relaxing, or completely dedicated to advancing your career. However, dipping your toes into a little bit of both will go a long way toward achieving your goals when next year rolls around.