The first snowfall of the season has finally landed on the doorstep of BMI's HQ - at least, the first snowfall that seems to be sticking around. The snow is actually quite late this year, compared to years past, though that should not be taken as a complaint. Instead, it actually looks as though the snow is matching the generally slower pace the world has been operating on in the past months. Last year, BMI encouraged that the days and weeks leading up into the Christmas season be spent with laser focus, denying the urge to let the impending holidays start bleeding out into both days prior and after, and similarly, to prevent work from crossing over into the holidays. Work at work, and relax at home; focus on what needs to be accomplished now, so that your time off can be spent truly relaxing, and not having to worry about work you procrastinated.
This year, however, there needs to be a small shift in where that aforementioned laser focus should be. A consequence of what we'll refer to as a global situation, the lines between work and home life have become unbelievably blurred. Work from home, virtual meetings, unusual office hours, labour shortages, the list goes on and on. Suffice it to say, even BMI has not been immune to work becoming a perpetual event that does not stay confined to office hours. More important than ever, then, becomes the BMI concept of Wellth. The concept of holistic success, of work-life balance, of separating and keeping work at work and home at home, is something that is getting lost in the shuffle of the constantly shifting work environment and various rules, regulations, and habits. It is the most difficult but most important thing that anyone can do this season to help move their business forward.
Take, then, the time to plan your holidays to be real holidays. A holiday needn't be extravagant, expensive, involve travel, weeks-long, or 'doing' things. All it need be is a dedicated time to unplug, relax, recuperate, and catch up on some of the critically important (but never urgent) things that may have been put to the backburner. Things like spending time with friends and family, time spent on hobbies and enjoyable activities, time spent enjoying life. Things that make life fulfilling, and the things that seem to suffer because work has urgency and demands. Take the time to reflect on what you're working for, the goals you are trying to achieve, the dreams you are passionately trying to fulfill; take the time to well and truly relax, so that you are renewed and ready to face whatever comes your way.
If you find yourself completely unable to take that time, then that unto itself should be cause for pause and reflection. Working yourself to death is not your purpose, even if the world should like to posit that it is. And if you find yourself in that position, perhaps it is time to reach out and employ resources to relieve you of that burden.
From all of your BMI family, have a joyous, holy, and wonderful Christmas, and a very happy new year. Here's to 2022, and another year of success, prosperity, and achievement.
- Your BMI family