7 Quotes That Will Help You Unplug During The Holidays

Unsplash/Anna Demianenko

Americans are notoriously known for hustling and working their butts off at their nine to five’s, constantly daydreaming about upcoming vacation days — but when those vacation days roll around, we’re too stressed out about our jobs to actually unplug and enjoy our much-awaited holidays. Maybe it’s because we subconsciously feel guilty about relaxing because we’re told time and again about the importance of being productive 24/7. But allowing ourselves to fully unplug during our vacay days is essential for our wellbeing and will help us come back to the office feeling refreshed and more focused. Here are seven quotes that’ll remind you about the importance of taking a break, both for your body and mind.

1.

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” — Chinese Proverb

We often feel like if we’re not being productive that we’re wasting time. But humans weren’t meant to stress constantly, we were meant to have periods of work and periods of rest. That’s how our bodies function. So you might not think that you’re the type of person who can sit on the beach and do nothing, but if you just remind yourself that it’s completely normal — and okay — to take a break and relax sometimes, it’ll make your vacay that much more enjoyable.

2.

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.”— William Burroughs

Many times we come up with our most innovative ideas when we’re not actively trying to think of them. It can be hard to get your creative juices flowing when you’re stuck in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so taking a break and letting your mind wander could be the key to your next big idea. And even if it isn’t, letting your mind relax and do whatever it wants will help you feel more refreshed and focused once you do go back to work.

3.

“Life isn’t as serious as the mind makes it out to be.” — Eckhart Tolle

Although it’s good that you take your career seriously, it’s also important to take breaks sometimes to realize that work isn’t everything — taking time to relax, have fun and laugh is equally as important. Take this holiday break to let your silly side shine and don’t take yourself too seriously!

Unsplash/Gabrielle Cole

4.

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”— Mark Black

Our society puts busyness on a pedestal, it seems that we always need to be working towards a goal of some kind or on a task. But in order to work more efficiently, our bodies and minds need time to relax and recharge. Taking a full break this holiday season — without checking emails or stressing out about work-related things — is the best thing that you can do to increase your productivity once you do get back to the office.

5.

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…Including you.”— Anne Lamott

Just like our laptops, we occasionally need to shut down to work more optimally. You might feel like you have a million things to do and you can’t take a break, but trying to do work when you’re tired is the opposite of productive. Allowing yourself to unplug will make you more focused and ready to power through work when you get back from vacation.

6.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”— Amit Ray

Instead of ruining your vacay by stressing out about work problems, set a goal for yourself to not think about work at all during the holidays. Sometimes, the best way to find solutions to your problems is to disconnect for a while and leave all your troubles behind. This will allow you to regain some perspective and to realize that the problems that seemed so huge at the office probably aren’t as big as you think.

Pixabay

7.

“Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.”— Dalai Lama

Letting yourself relax during the holidays isn’t a sign of weakness or indiscipline, it’s necessary for your health and wellbeing. Our bodies and minds are not meant to work constantly without breaks — we’re not robots. Taking care of your mind and your body by letting them recharge during the holidays will give you the strength that you need to be more productive and self-assured when you get back to the office. After all, a calm and happy mind is a capable mind.

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