How to wind down for the year

"Research going back almost 100 years finds that when you have a task to complete, you are highly motivated to finish it. It stays active in your memory, and you seek opportunities to get it done. That tendency is normally a good one. But on a break, it is a factor that will drive your mind back to the workplace-even when you're supposed to be relaxing. To give yourself the best chance to chill, see if you can close out key tasks before you leave. At a minimum, reach a good stopping place on tasks so that you don't feel like you have left them incomplete."

"If you take an introductory programming class, the instructors will drill into your head that you should "comment your code" as you go along. The aim is to write down a glossary of key variable names, the purpose of sections of code, and any other information about critical data structures, functions, or procedures that will remind you what the code was about. The idea is that the whole structure seems obvious while you're writing it, but if you have to return to that code weeks, months, or even years later, you will have no recollection of what you did. So, leaving comments will enable you to reconstruct the purpose of that section of code."

Close as many tasks as possible before a holiday break to prevent unfinished work from drawing attention during time off. Reach clear stopping points on remaining items so they feel complete and manageable. Avoid starting large new projects that will hang over the break. Leave concise documentation or notes that explain key elements of ongoing work so returning to tasks is faster. Set expectations about availability, delegate or hand off responsibilities, and configure communications to minimize interruptions. Plan a short re-entry buffer to catch up and reduce stress when ramping back up after the break.

Read at Fast Company