How to make the most of your festive break

It’s here! It’s finally here! The holiday break has arrived and the end of this crazy year is in sight!

Hasn’t it been a rollercoaster? The passage of time between staying home and socially distancing, to new waves of civil rights and social justice movements all mixed with the drama of the US election has left us all a bit wiped out and whiplashed. It’s hard to believe that this time last year, Sydney was shrouded in smoke from devastating bushfires and ash was falling from the sky – so much has happened since then!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be taking advantage of any time off by sleeping in, reading and crafting to your heart’s content, and who could blame you? Both our bodies and minds need a decent amount of rest and relaxation this festive season. However, if you’re the kind of person who can’t sit still and thrives off of having a jam-packed schedule, never fear, for I have put together a list of different things you can do to make the most of your festive break.

Work as a Christmas Casual

Whilst it’s probably too late to secure a role as a Chrissy casual for 2020, it may be worth thinking about for 2021! It’s a big recruitment time for retail and if you show them how good you are they may just keep you on after the holiday season.

Never underestimate the value of retail experience!

Complete a virtual internship

If you’ve missed out on applying for Christmas casual roles, do not worry! You may continue your job search but in your free time it could be worth jumping on Forage and completing a Virtual Internship. There are a wide variety of virtual experiences available on this platform from companies such as Microsoft, King & Wood Mallesons and KPMG.

It’s a great way to learn new and relevant skills at your own pace, and there’s no lengthy application process!

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to give back whilst also gaining valuable experience. This time of year is hard for many people but there are plenty of opportunities to lend a hand to those in need, just check the NSW Volunteering website.

Have a search and see what opportunities are near you!

Network at end of/new year events

It’s not exactly the year of the big, rowdy Christmas work party but many companies are still hosting smaller, low-key gatherings to celebrate the end of 2020. These events are not only great for some much needed socialisation, but also some sneaky networking! Have a chat to your colleagues and find out more about what’s happening in the organisation.

P.S. this also goes for family events! You never know when a spot might become available at your uncle’s friend’s daughter’s company!

Build a portfolio

If you’ve got a lot of free time on your hands this summer, why not spend it building your portfolio? You can work on a passion project or hone your skills in a particular area and use the end result as an example of your work for potential clients, employers or collaborators!

The UTS Careers Design Portfolio Guide is a great resource to help you get started!

Spend time on your hobbies

One thing 2020 gave us in abundance was free time! Many of us filled this free time by revisiting old hobbies or even finding new ones. I used YouTube videos to learn how to crochet and made a whole blanket! Now I’m learning to play the ukulele and having so much fun!

Hobbies are a great way to enhance your life outside of work and are great for your mental and physical health. Spending even a small amount of time on these activities can make the world of difference, especially after the year we’ve had.

So, whether you’re filling your summer schedule with items from the above list or just chilling out on the beach 24/7, I wish you a happy holiday and a kinder year in 2021!

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash

Gifs courtesy of giphy