Hello procrastinator. How often have your friends been bugging you to go along on a short trip to Bali, or a nearby island for a relaxing beach holiday? Yes, we know you're the stereotypical Asian worker whose priorities are building a stable career, but newsflash! You are only human.

What you need to keep your mind fresh and undistracted is a vacation. Stress is a key distraction in any task, and the best way to combat it is to allocate some time to recharge your batteries - by this meaning relaxing your mind and body!

According to Psych Central:


TIME OUT!

You call the shots on this one. Submit your leave application for a few days. That's what you deserve after a long year of slaving yourself to the corporate world. Explain to your boss how you'd like to prepare for Christmas, or Hanukkah or the New Year. I'm sure your boss will understand. Even if they don't, they have no right to make you stay. Especially when you have leave days to claim.

CALCULATE.

Calculate your expenses and see how much 'spare change' you have. List down a list of things you can do for yourself

Bigger Budget
1. Vacation - to a nearby Island with your best friend.
2. Spa - to relax alone.
3. Retail therapy - alone or with others, just to indulge and spend all that good money made by you.

Smaller Budget
1. Draw a bath and soak in it.
2. Lie in - spend time with the telly and all those DVDs you've been meaning to watch.
3. Read in your favourite chair, or coffee house.
4. Take a walk: Sight-seeing - YES! In your own town, take a walk or visit the places you haven't visited because it's touristy. Be a tourist for a day. Or just have a stroll in the park.
5. Hit the cake houses with your best friends.
6. Put on a CD that relaxes your mind. Listen to music - Let it touch your soul base and close your eyes to absorb the feeling.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!

Help your mum prepare Christmas dinner, or wrap gifts she's bought for the family. Take a day off to help with Christmas preparations - even if this sounds tiring already, you'll feel satisfied with your share of Christmas work. Have a drink with dad and reminisce if you may. Play with the young ones and watch TV with the teens. Being around family eases stress as they are the closest people to you and know you inside out.

Or if your friends are as close to you as your family is, get out with them, hang out at the mall or sit down for a cuppa and bask in total relaxation. Try not to talk about office if it stresses you out thinking about it. Or if you need to get it off your mind, talk to your friends or family about it to release stressful thoughts.