Your “Christmas Break” Is a Lie (If You’re Still Available)

Confession: for years, I told myself I was “having a Christmas break.”

I wasn’t.

I was just working from Portugal.

And what’s worse is that I genuinely believed it. Because the scenery changed. Because I was “with family.” Because I wasn’t in London, or in an office, in the usual routine. So in my head it counted as rest.

But if you’re still sending emails, still taking calls, still mentally “on”… that’s not a break. That’s relocation.

I was talking to someone today and asked the most normal December question:

“Are you excited for the Christmas break?”

They looked at me and said, completely casually: “I’m not having a break.”

And I don’t know why, but that sentence landed.

Because my first reaction was: That’s awful.
And my second reaction was: Wait… I’ve done the exact same thing for years.

The Lie We Tell Ourselves: “I’m Away, So I’m Resting.”

Most years, I travel to Portugal for Christmas to be with my family. And because I’m travelling, everyone assumes I’m “off.”

Even I assume I’m “off.”

But here’s the truth: if you’re still working, you’re not on a break. You’re just working somewhere else.

I’ve had years where I’m with my family, physically present… and still sending emails on Christmas Day. Not because anyone forced me. Not because there was an emergency.

Because it had become normal.

And that’s the part that scares me a bit — how easily we normalise never stopping.

“But I’m Not in the Office…”

This is where people get stuck.

They think rest is a location. A flight. A different view. A different timezone. A different background on Zoom.

But rest isn’t a place. It’s a state.

And you don’t get that state if your brain is still in work mode. If you’re still checking emails “just in case.” If you’re still replying quickly so you don’t “fall behind.” If you’re still half-present at the table because your mind is elsewhere.

You can be in Portugal, Egypt, Bali, Costa Rica or your childhood bedroom… and still not be resting.

This Year, I’m Doing It Differently

This year I’m going to Egypt. Again. (My 4th time!)

And for the first time in a long time, I’m taking a real break.

I’m not taking my computer.
I’m not checking emails.
I’m telling people I’ll be away.
I’ll be offline. Properly.

No “just a quick reply.”
No “I’ll only check once a day.”
No “I’ll catch up at night.”

Because I realised something recently: I need this. Not as a luxury. As a necessity.

Santa on break

The Uncomfortable Part

A lot of people don’t avoid breaks because they’re lazy or uncommitted.

They avoid breaks because stopping feels unsafe.

If I stop, will I lose momentum?
If I don’t reply, will I look unprofessional?
If I go offline, will I miss something important?
If I rest, will everything fall apart?

And sometimes (if we’re honest) it’s also identity.

If you’re “the reliable one,” “the productive one,” “the one who always delivers”… then rest can feel like you’re breaking character.

But here’s what I know after years of coaching and watching people burn themselves out quietly:

If you never stop, your body will stop you. And it won’t ask nicely.

A Question for You (No Judgement, Just Truth)

What does a “break” actually mean in your life?

Is it:

• travelling while still working?

• being “off” but still reachable?

• taking time away but keeping one eye on your inbox?

Or is it a real break — where you actually let your nervous system come down, where you stop performing, stop producing, stop being “on”?

And if you can’t take a real break… why?

Not the polite answer. The real one.

Because maybe the most powerful thing you can do before the new year isn’t planning more goals, more projects, more productivity.

Maybe it’s proving to yourself that you can stop… and the world won’t end.

I’ll be offline in Egypt. And for once, I’m genuinely excited about that.

Love and truth,
Emma