At Christmas it seems that most of the games industry takes time out, and the fact that there is a deluge of OOO messages when we send anything out from early December, means that there is no way to do business… so don’t.
Over the Summer Jackie Mulligan who has done extensive research on creativity and motivation reminded us “If you are physically away from the office (be it your home office or an actual office outside your home), make sure your mind gets a chance to be away too. It’s a hard thing to do but so important for your mental health as well as your work. Research has shown that giving your mind a chance to relax or zone out can pay dividends for your creativity and motivation especially when you get back to work.” So taking time out is good for business long term as well as good for you.
The Christmas break means you get a chance to take time to reconnect with yourself, your friends, loved ones or just to who you are and where you are. It’s a tough time for some who have lost loved ones, but there is support there too and reaching out for a friendly ear, is easier at this kinder time of year. It’s also a time where we can share memories and toast those who are with us and those no longer with us. This winter pause is good for us, but only if we make the most of it. If you are feeling very low or depressed at this time of year, we hope this article helps – a key tip this Blog from Mind urges is being kind to yourself at Christmas.
Whether it is cosying up to watch Elf or Die Hard (delete as appropriate), having a winter walk in the woods or spending time with friends and/or family, Christmas is a great way to remind ourselves that there is more to life than work and more to our identities than what we do for a living. If you are out of work, between jobs or setting up a business, try to take time out for this break as there is little that can be done between the 24th December and 1st January anyway. Using the time to read a good book, be with friends or to pamper yourself is good, or if that feels too decadent – take some time to plan what you will do in the New Year but don’t work on the plans until you have rested and recharged.
The break gives us valuable time to rest and that rest gives our minds space to slow down. Jackie explains “In the slow down, don’t be surprised if creative ideas emerge. Write them down but don’t work on them….Simply take note.” A book beside you to write these moments of inspiration down is also better than a phone – but more on that later.
Spend time with loved ones
When you stop working during these festive times, it is easy to get a sensation that you have missed things at home. Sometimes you might feel overwhelmed by that, but don’t be. Be Christmas Present – aware of the moment, not regretting the past or the moments you have not spent with those you love due to work pressures, travel or other responsibilities. If you are a parent, this time with kids can be so special that going back to work after the holiday, can feel like a wrench.
Jackie says “I remember when this used to happen to me. After Christmas, driving back to the office, I felt sick with guilt and a kind of homesickness . I felt that I should be spending more time at home as the togetherness I had experienced was so good. I felt so bad for leaving my daughter and had all the parental guilt you can imagine. But I gained a new perspective on this after hearing a talk by Anya Hindmarch who said that kids don’t remember the amount of time we spend with them, but how that time felt. I always went back to that quote when I felt low…It was quite helpful in January usually.”
So what can we learn from this? Promise yourself not to miss things this holiday, because it is the stopping and looking up and around you that counts. It is being in the moment, rather than worrying about the future that makes a big difference to your emotional wellbeing. So our advice for this festive season is to focus on quality time, not the quantity of time. Be present and take note of your thoughts – this pause will help you when you get back to work. So if you are with loved ones this Christmas, make sure to be present with them. Get involved in the small things and the big things, make sure to listen and pay attention to their feelings and your feelings too. Try to relax and take time out.
Put down the phone
When we pay attention on one thing, we gain creative dividends. Whether it is wrapping gifts, writing cards, or peeling carrots, getting lost in thoughts or in an activity can help us feel more motivated and lets our minds relax to incubate ideas. Focussing on one thing enables us to discover, to explore and to innovate without us even noticing – it’s why the best ideas often come to us when we are just dozing off, or on a run, or stuffing envelopes.
Dependency on smartphones is a part of modern life, more so at Christmas where we might want to snap away to preserve or share these memories, but make sure you can experience the holiday with your own eyes too. When we are on holiday it is even more important to put phones down. Phones are made for distraction, and there is plenty of time and space for that in 2024. As Jackie said in her article over the Summer -“at work we can be multitasking all the time, but the relentlessness of that can take its toll on our ability to innovate and come up with new ideas. Holidays are not the time for online distractions, and if we take the opportunity to switch off and abide by the message on our ‘Out Of Office’, it can help us in our work later on. Time away from work gives us all time to (re)focus and to recharge our creative batteries.” Something Rosie Taylor identified as crucial to looking after our mental health “Your life is not your job and finding joy and peace outside of your work is so important.”
Now joy and peace seems like a good end quote to this Christmas blog. The Game Republic office will be closed until 3rd January, we will be recharging our batteries after an incredible 20th Anniversary year. Any posts you see will be scheduled, our phones will be off most of the time apart from the odd silly pic we want to share. We look forward to seeing you all re-energised on the other side.
In the meantime we wish you all a peaceful, restful and joyful break.
Featured image courtesy of Mylene2401 at Pixabay
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