It’s been a very busy year, with barely a chance to take a breath, but now you’re facing the prospect of two whole weeks of downtime. What will you do with yourself?

It can be incredibly hard to switch off when you’re used to being switched on 24/7. However, research shows it’s essential to find ways to unwind if you’re to avoid burnout and exhaustion. A study of teachers – an equally high-pressure profession – found that those who continued to worry about work during their Christmas holidays were less likely to recover from the demands of the term.

On the flip side, those teachers who satisfied their basic psychological needs, by spending time with family and friends for example, restored their emotional energy and improved their mental health.

Here are 10 things you can do to stop yourself thinking about work and help you relax and enjoy the festive period.

1.Put on your out of office

To ensure your time off really is time off, it’s essential to set the parameters of your break – and stick to them. Let clients and colleagues know when you will be off from and when you will return to work. Make it clear you won’t be checking your emails and only want to be contacted via telephone with urgent enquiries. If your office is open in between Christmas and New Year, detail who will be in and who to contact in your absence.

If you have to do some work over the break or keep an eye on emails, plan when you will do it. Maybe an hour in the morning, so once it’s done you can forget about it and get on with the rest of your day. Be strict with yourself and resist the urge to check your inbox throughout the day. Even lock your phone away if you have to!

2. Don’t talk about work

If your social circle contains lots of fellow EventProfs it can be hard to avoid talking shop. But while it can be useful to swap stories and share challenges with colleagues, it means your mind remains in work-mode. Equally, talking about work-related issues with family and friends who are not in the industry can prevent you from having more meaningful conversations.

Many of us feel defined by what we do for a living – it’s one of the first questions we ask when we meet someone new, but there’s so much more to people than their job. Make a conscious effort to talk about other things instead, like current affairs, philosophy, causes you’re passionate about, and enjoy the mental workout.

3. Read

According to research, reading is the best way to relax and reduce stress levels – more effective than listening to music, going for a walk or settling down with a cup of tea. Just six minutes can slow the heart rate and ease muscle tension by as much as 68%. Psychologists believe this is because the human mind has to concentrate on reading.

Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis, who conducted the test, said: “It really doesn’t matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.

“This is more than merely a distraction but an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate your creativity and cause you to enter what is essentially an altered state of consciousness.”

4. Engage with your family

Spending time with your family is not the same as engaging with them. You get out what you put in, so make an effort. This means doing things together, like playing games, cooking or crafting, and showing enthusiasm (even if you’d rather be slouched in front of the TV). It’s especially important to make the most of your time with your kids by joining in with things they enjoy.

While it takes an effort to roleplay Barbies and Ninja Turtles and might feel like the last thing you want to do, it can be mentally beneficial. A study carried out among single mothers found that the more time a parent spent playing with their child, the lower their levels of parental stress, and the more energised they felt as a parent.

5. Get a massage

Massage has been scientifically proven to reduce stress – just five minutes can slow the heart rate and significantly reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone). You don’t need to go for a professional massage (although taking a bit of ‘me time’ is a great idea), instead you can ask your partner to massage your back and shoulders, or you can massage yourself.

Giving yourself a quick 10-minute head massage can give you instant benefits. You’ll not only reduce stress indicators, you can also increase circulation to the brain to boost your energy and alertness. Add some essential oils into the mix (citrus is great for de-stressing) and you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped out of the spa.

6. Exercise

If you don’t usually have time to exercise, now’s the time to get active. We often think about relaxing as lying in bed or sprawling out on the sofa, but unwinding isn’t just about sleeping or doing nothing (although you are perfectly entitled to some of that over Christmas). Getting out and partaking in physical activity can be really reinvigorating.

While the weather might put you off going outside, why not make the effort to join your friend at their yoga class or buy a day pass to use the pool at your local gym? And on a bright, crisp December day, there’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and taking a walk to burn off some of those extra Christmas calories.

7. Spend some time alone

The festive period is, of course, a time for family and friends, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t also enjoy a little solitude. When we’re busy working, there’s little time to stop and reflect. Doing so, however, can increase your creativity (and improve mental wellbeing).

According to a recent study, engaging in periods of intentional solitude reduces stress by helping us “reach a flow state”. In this state, the brain works at optimal efficiency. Lead study author Dr Julie Bowker, says: “People are able to think creatively and develop new ideas – like an artist in a studio or the academic in his or her office.”

In fact, according to a growing body of psychology research, constant engagement through social media may now be reaching a level that is actually detrimental to mental health. So, when you do get some time to yourself, don’t use it to surf Facebook!

8. Cook

When we’re stressed, we’re much less likely to cook homemade meals, meaning we grab unhealthy takeouts and feel even worse. Not having time to cook proper meals can also lead to feelings of guilt, so consider using the Christmas break to indulge in some kitchen therapy.

Don’t put yourself under pressure by promising to whip up a Delia Smith-style spread, instead, dig out one or two recipes you’ve previously bookmarked (and forgotten about) and try your hand. A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, suggests that people who frequently take a turn at small, creative projects like cooking or baking report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives.

9. Complete home tasks

Has your sock drawer got completely out of hand? Have you got piles of photos waiting to be put into albums? Now is the time to get those little jobs and projects done. Completing these sorts of tasks help to declutter the mind, enabling you to tick them off your mental (or actual) to-do list.

What’s more, they often have a very pleasing result, bringing lots of job satisfaction. While some jobs might still be a form of ‘work’ (cleaning your silver jewellery, for example), crucially it’s different work. And because it’s mundane and you don’t have to concentrate too hard, you can make it even more enjoyable by listening to a podcast or an audiobook while you do it.

10. Practice mindfulness

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to unwind this Christmas is to be mentally present in your relaxation time. This means anchoring yourself in the present moment and not letting your mind drift off to thoughts about work or other stresses.

To help you do this, you can practise mindfulness techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises. For an introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practise on your own, download these free audio-guided sessions, provided by UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

Conclusion

You deserve a break, so don’t cheat yourself out of one by sabotaging your holidays. Try these 10 tactics for your most enjoyable and relaxing Christmas ever, and start the new year raring to go.