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The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Try these 10 ways to reduce stress before and after your holiday.
If you are preparing to go on holiday, try following these tips to ensure you maximise the relaxation factor of time away from your work desk. After all, alongside the demands of daily life, some find being away from work is enormously stressful as you wind up in a rush preparing for your time off, then catching up on everything not done in your absence. Consider these ways to reduce stress and stay relaxed before, during and after your holiday. Before you go 1. Block time slots If you have a holiday approaching, plan to block periods of free time as early as possible, says Maike Sauermann from the IFBG, a German workplace health consultancy. Specifically, block time slots in your calendar when you do not schedule any appointments so you can complete your tasks before your trip. Ideally, that means you can start your well-deserved break without any unfinished tasks weighing on you. 2. Use smart email rules Many of us dread the flood of emails waiting for us when we come back to work but you can prevent this by creating smart rules before you go away. If someone is deputised to handle your work while you are away, set up your emails to be forwarded to them automatically during your absence. 'Your deputy can often decide which emails really need to be dealt with by you after your holiday and which do not,' says Sauermann. 3. Leave work devices at home Packing your tablet or laptop just in case? Don't do it. Sauermann says leave everything work-related in its place. If you wish, you can take a small pad of paper with you. 'If you think about work during your holiday, write your thoughts down,' she says. Then set your notes aside to help clear your mind while preserving any important ideas for later. 4. Distance yourself from your devices To truly disconnect from work life, you must also 'cut off' constant availability, says the IFBG. Try turning off your smartphone completely or switching it to flight mode while you are away. That should help you relax and protect you from the 'constant compulsion to stay informed', says Sauermann. 5. Do nothing for a change Once your holiday starts, are you busy planning family outings, cooking lunch or trying to get your finances in order? Don't. Do absolutely nothing on your vacation, says Sauermann. 'Above all, avoid doing too much that is related to self-optimisation or performance.' After a holiday, enjoy small moments of relaxation at work, like taking a longer lunch break, to help settle in better. — Pexels Returning to work 1. Avoid starting work on a Monday Back from your trip on a Sunday and being back at work on Monday is how many employees plan their holidays. But ideally, don't go back to the office at the beginning of the week. Better days are Wednesday or Thursday, says resilience consultant Petra Kruppenbacher in a contribution for the Initiative for New Quality of Work (INQA). Plan your holiday so that both the last and first workdays fall in the middle of the week so you only have a short working week. The prospect of the weekend ahead will keep you feeling more motivated and help counter any low spirits after your trip. 2. Allow time to settle back in You can also help yourself relax by taking time to settle back in after a holiday trip. Ideally, return home a few days before resuming work, says Kruppenbacher. That will give you time to organise daily life or household tasks and gradually adjust your sleep schedule to the work routine. 3. Set aside time to catch up If possible, take the first day after your return to get an overview and prioritise upcoming tasks, says Sauermann. 'Then take the next few days to calmly work through your tasks and get back into a structured work rhythm.' For this reason, your out-of-office message should not end on the day you return but at least one day later. 4. Hold on to that holiday spirit You don't want your good mood from your holiday to be replaced by a motivation slump, so enjoy small moments of relaxation in your workday, perhaps by taking a longer lunch break far from your screen. Thinking about a pleasant holiday experience or a fond memory helps maintain the positive holiday feeling for longer, say researchers. Sharing experiences with colleagues or keeping a small holiday-themed postcard where you can see it at your desk can also help bring your holiday spirit into your workplace and give you new energy to start a productive work phase, says Sauermann. 5. Plan your next holiday Plan your next short trip immediately after your holiday, says Kruppenbacher. Studies show that holidays help you relax even after just one or two days. So short breaks can definitely improve your well-being, too. – dpa
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Upcoming Xiamen International Design & Art Week 2025: Creativity shapes a better tomorrow
Xiamen, China, April 17, 2025 -- The Xiamen International Design & Art Week 2025 will be held from April 28 to May 18 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. Under the theme 'New Quality Life: Creativity Shapes a Better Tomorrow,' this year's event will explore how new quality productive forces are shaping the future of living through design and art. The Design & Art Week will showcase creative achievements from home and abroad, demonstrating how design and art can break conventions and unlock endless possibilities for the 'New Quality Life' through a series of exhibitions, academic activities, art lectures, and other diverse forms. Professor Yang Dongjiang, vice dean of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, serves as the chief planner of this year's event. An international exhibition: 300+ works exploring New Quality Life The core of the event is the Xiamen Design & Art Exhibition, to be held at the Xiamen Art Museum from April 28 to May 18. The exhibition will feature over 300 unique and innovative works by more than 80 outstanding designers and artists from 13 countries. Three premier forums: Global design visionaries in dialogue During the Design & Art Week, a series of academic activities will also be held. The keynote speech 'New Quality Life: Creativity Shapes a Better Tomorrow', and the academic activities 'Possibilities and Boundaries of AI' and 'Rethinking and Remaking Design Education' will invite renowned scholars, designers, artists, and industry experts to bring new collision of ideas. Five masterclasses: Unleashing designer-artist in everyone Experts and scholars from various fields at Tsinghua University will offer five open classes to the public, covering topics such as the beauty of AI, patterns, cultural and creative industries, craftsmanship, and fashion. These classes aim to allow the public to experience the joy of creation in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere and become artists in their lives. Design & Art Map: Unlocking creativity across city The Xiamen International Design & Art Week 2025 creatively proposes the concept of a Xiamen Design & Art Map to activate the city's creative code, selecting 56 local institutions across three categories — design, art, and specialty merchants — based on professional value, spatial aesthetics, and format innovation. This initiative encourages residents and visitors to explore the design and art heritage of Xiamen by following the map. Contact Info: Name: Huang Junyao Email: Send Email Organization: China Daily Website: Release ID: 89157945 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours – ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.
