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For those who have decided to use their PTO around the holidays, their time might be filled with visits to family and friends, copious amounts of food, and various holiday music, but what about those who remain in the office? It can actually be quite nice when there’s no one around—the office is quiet, there’s less pressure to answer emails or rush through projects, and you can use the time to get yourself all set up for the new year. If you’re holding the fort during the holidays, here’s how you can use your downtime wisely.
Take Stock of the Year
When work is busy, reflection usually gets pushed to the side. The holidays are one of the few times when it makes sense to pause and assess what actually happened over the past year.
This doesn’t have to be some formal exercise. Ask yourself a few simple questions: What projects went well? Which skills did you actually use, and which ones are fading? This kind of honest assessment is useful whether you’re aiming for a promotion, planning a job search, or simply trying to avoid repeating the same frustrations next year.
This can be as simple as writing a few bullet points for yourself to help clarify what you want more of (and less of) moving forward.
Work on Your Professional Brand
Holiday downtime at the office doesn’t mean you should start a complete resume overhaul, but it is an ideal time for small, meaningful updates. With fewer distractions, it’s easier to review your resume or LinkedIn profile with a critical eye.
Be on the lookout for outdated language, vague bullet points, or missing accomplishments. Tightening one or two bullet points to better reflect your impact can make a big difference later, especially if you’re looking for a promotion (or looking to change jobs) next year.
This is also a good time to update your LinkedIn headline, clean up your “About” section, or save job descriptions that catch your interest, even if you’re not actively applying to jobs.
Learn Something New
The holidays are one of the best times to learn something new because there’s less pressure to immediately apply it. That’s a luxury most professionals don’t have during peak work periods, so take advantage of it while you can.
This could mean watching a short course on Excel or AI tools, reading industry reports, or simply getting familiar with a new platform your team may adopt next year. The goal here isn’t absolute mastery, but rather gaining exposure to new tools so you’re more familiar with them moving forward.
Casually Reconnect with Your Network
During your downtime, you don’t have to send cold emails. Instead, aim for some low-stakes reconnection with people you haven’t interacted with in a while. The holidays are perfect for this because you can break the ice with a simple “I hope you had a great year!” or “Just wanted to wish you a Happy Holiday!”
Sending a brief message wishing a former colleague or mentor well can reopen doors without any immediate ask. Many people are more reflective during this time, and a thoughtful note can stand out in an otherwise quiet inbox. The key here is to keep it genuine and pressure-free.
Organize Before the New Year Hits
When things get busy again, organizing may not be possible. Holiday downtime is an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the curve.
This might mean cleaning up your inbox, organizing files, documenting processes you usually keep in your head, or setting up folders for upcoming projects. These small acts don’t always feel “productive,” but they can save time and lessen frustrations later on.
Don’t Overdo Resolutions
The internet loves ambitious New Year’s resolutions (we’re looking at you, LinkedIn), but professionals are often better served by clarity than grand, often unreachable promises. Instead of setting huge goals, focus on identifying one or two priorities for the coming year.
Maybe it’s developing a specific skill, positioning yourself for a new role, or improving how you manage your workload. Knowing your direction for the new year will make it easier to say yes to the right opportunities and no to distractions.
Be Visible Without Overworking
Some professionals worry that being quiet during a quiet period will reflect poorly on them. The reality is that most managers expect a slowdown this time of year.
That being said, responding promptly, offering to help when appropriate, and finishing lingering tasks can reinforce reliability without requiring you to overwork yourself. In fact, thoughtful contributions during downtime often stand out more than frantic activity during peak periods.
Indeed, professionals who treat the holiday lull as dead time miss an opportunity that doesn’t come around often. Using this time to reflect, organize, or learn something new can set the tone for the rest of the year, so if you find yourself in the office this holiday season and you’ve got some downtime, take advantage of the situation.
Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.
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