Capture the Calm Before the Storm
Last week was an end rush. Our deal-makers were closing new hotel deals and senior executives were locked in meeting rooms. It was all about results from the past year and visions for the next. And, of course, every night of the week there was another party to celebrate the season.
But this week is a still one. Or should be. And not even the most dire hard workaholic should feel guilty about it.
Here's why: These precious days before the new year can be both refreshing and meaningful.
This year, I plan to take this time seriously -- as seriously as I do during the crunch weeks -- so I forced myself to write out my strategy. Here’s my plan:
- Banish technology. I will park my devices aside for the bulk of every day. I'll be intentional about pulling them out to check for emergencies – once after breakfast, once before dinner and once before bed. (I'll use as a guide my rules to master the mobile, which I blogged about a year ago on this topic.)
- Be deliberate about time. Far too often, I have left a family holiday gathering regretting that I did not get enough time with someone or did not really find out anything about what’s up with another. I am going to make sure I have a focused conversations with family and that I shut out the distractions (ahem, football).
- Get outside. One of the challenges of the winter holidays, especially for those of us that spend them in cold climates, is to get fresh air. It may be cold and damp, but there's a beauty in bundling up in sweaters and walking through the chill. My family will be spending some time in the English countryside, not a locale known for it's inviting winters, and we plan to leave the car behind.
- Reflect on and debate. We have heard so often that our political environment and our society today is divisive that we take it as a given. (I can attest to personally experiencing the downside of this. Whenever I post a blog or speak about issues like immigration or minimum wages, I often get a vitriolic response from one "side" or the other.)
The thing is, we should have different points of view. That makes for strength in a political system or in a community. Those points of view should be voiced, heard and respected. When there's a respite from day-to-day demands, it's a good time to listen to other points of view on a world of subjects. I will keep my ears open. - Eat, drink and be merry. Lest I worry too much about using this time to maximum benefit, I will keep make sure to do the above. It's time to launch a new, fresh start of a new year: what better time to celebrate.
Happy new year. How do you plan to ready yourself for 2015?
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National Media Psychologist and Personality
10 å¹´Being Happy is the best link to success.
Head of Marketing & Public Relations
10 å¹´Happy New Year Arne to you and to the whole Marriott International Family. Warm Greetings from Renaissance Tlemcen, Algeria !!!
Redpoint Capital Advisors, LLC | Real Estate Private Equity, Structured Finance, Development Programming and Sponsorship Advisory.
10 å¹´Right on Arne. Happy holiday
I Don't TEACH Leadership. I BUILD High-Impact Leaders | Coaching Psychologist | Tech Leader
10 å¹´I hope your plan comes to fruition Arne. I know from experience how difficult such downtime can actually but equally how rewarding it can be. having ensured I get at least one weeks complete downtime a year in mid-summer i hope all looking to get some down-time succeed. it is truly worth it to come back refreshed and raring to go
Long before this time of year was the "Christmas Season", it was the time of the Yule. A time when the days were at their shortest and yet beginning the long processes of lengthening again. It was a time for quiet contemplation and celebration of renewal. It is a spirit that our modern society would do well to recapture.