While we all love our digital workplaces and how they enable a new hybrid or fully remote workspace, working environments have become ‘always on’, now more than ever. While the pandemic and working from home have caused this culture shift, I think it is safe to say that we would all love to flick that ‘always on’ switch off during the holiday season and unplug from work.

However, today, we’re here to help you escape the sweet allure of Microsoft 365 digital workplaces over the holiday season.

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3 ways to disconnect from work

Each of the following actions is accompanied by three alternatives actions based on your digital dependency level. Since it’s the holiday season, let’s have some fun with these.

The different options are, “I hope you have a little self-control,” “Ok, you may have a problem,” and “Seek professional help.”

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1. Put Microsoft Teams on pause

I know, you’ve never enjoyed digital communication and collaboration with colleagues as much as you do through Microsoft Teams! However, you know what they say, “Absence makes the heart grow founder,” and so it shall, as you make time to dig into the delicious servings of new and old holiday dishes.

Now, if you find the task of not opening Microsoft Teams on your phone and computer over the holidays a difficult one, I hope one of the following three methods helps.

1. The “I hope you have a little self-control” Dependency Level
   Mute your notifications or turn off notifications entirely.
2. The “Ok, you may have a problem” Dependency Level
   Temporarily delete Microsoft Teams off your phone and store your laptop somewhere that you’ll need a ladder to reach.
3. The “Seek professional help” Dependency Level
   Grab your laptop and phone firmly and proceed to hurl them out of the window as you question how it ever got this far.

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2. Migrate your new habits from Microsoft Viva Insights, into your everyday life

The Insights module has likely found its way into your heart and daily routine if you are one of the many organizations and individuals leveraging Microsoft Viva. It has helped us work, excel in the new normal, and potentially even better our overall mental health. If you aren’t using Viva Insights yet, take a look at this video to prep your mind for after the break.

While work pressures shouldn’t be around over the holidays, it is a great time to adopt or continue to adopt things like Headspace in your daily life.

If you want to take a break from work without taking a break from developing better mental health, take a look at the following three methods.

1. The “I hope you have a little self-control” Dependency Level
   Take what you have learned and apply it outside of work in a similar way and/or download the headspace app for a little help.
2. The “Ok, you may have a problem” Dependency Level
   Has your love of warm covers and soft pillows interrupted that great daily routine you had before the holidays? If you are looking for something more schedule-oriented, try booking a few yoga classes or a couple of spa days to take the edge off.
3. The “Seek professional help” Dependency Level
   Forget a spa day, book a spa week or vacation!

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3. Put Outlook on pause

While Microsoft Teams has become where most of your time in the digital workplace is spent, email isn’t going anywhere. So, how do you disconnect from floods of relevant and irrelevant information flying into your inbox each day? Or how about the calendar widget on your phone that constantly takes you down a river of work-related thoughts?

If you want to disconnect from email, try one of the following methods.

1. The “I hope you have a little self-control” Dependency Level
   Remove the widget from your phone, mute or turn off notifications entirely, and set an out-of-office message.
2. The “Ok, you may have a problem” Dependency Level
   Temporarily delete Microsoft Outlook off your phone and store your laptop somewhere that you’ll need a ladder to reach.
3. The “Seek professional help” Dependency Level
   Sit on your couch eating your favorite comfort food and wonder how many new emails you’ll have in your inbox or if it will even be able to display the entire number.

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Did that help?

While this blog was in good fun, we hope you found some new ideas to leverage in your quest for an escape from work over the holiday season. We hope this has helped so that you can spend time with family and friends.

If you need help improving Microsoft 365 usage and learning best practices, we’re happy to help you right after some family, friends, and good times over the holidays. See you in the new year.

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If you really can’t get enough of us, take some time to browse our many Microsoft 365 resources.