What to Do With the Festive Break
The festive break is not just time off. It is one of the few moments in the year where distance appears naturally. Distance from meetings, from noise, from urgency. And distance is often what we need most to see clearly.
Before rushing into what’s next, pause and look back.
Take time to acknowledge what you achieved this year. Even the things no one noticed. Especially those. You know the conversations you handled well, the decisions you took under pressure, the moments where you held the line when it would have been easier to let go. Recognizing those wins matters. Not for ego, but because confidence is built by remembering what you are capable of when things get hard. That awareness will come back when you need it most.
Then look at what didn’t work. Honestly. Without excuses, but also without punishment. Try to understand why something failed with a humble and objective mindset. Was it timing, context, people, lack of clarity, or simply something you were not ready for yet? Not everything needs fixing. Some things just need understanding. That understanding is progress.
Once you’ve done that, let your thoughts drift forward. Dream a little. Not in a structured way. Just allow yourself to imagine what you want to create, where you want to go, what kind of work would truly excite you. Ambition often starts as a vague feeling before it becomes a plan.
I remember my early days at W Barcelona. I became obsessed with elevating the hotel to the level of global brands. It never happened. But that mindset changed everything. It gave me the confidence to think bigger and to bring in partners like Nike, Apple, TED Talks and many others. Even when the goal is not reached exactly as imagined, the direction you choose shapes the opportunities you attract.
Use the break to find inspiration away from social media and AI. Walk around the city. Look at local brands. Pay attention to how they communicate, how they design their storefronts, how they advertise, how they speak without shouting. Look at graphic design, typography and signage. Notice what graffiti is trying to say. Cities speak. Most of the best ideas do not come from screens, they come from observation.
I used to do this a lot when visiting hotels. After long budget meetings or intense commercial reviews, I would wake up early in the morning and walk the hotel quietly with my phone. With a rested mind, I could finally see the property as a person, not as a corporate guy. I would take pictures of anything that felt special, honest or full of potential. Those walks gave me the clarity I needed to advise my portfolio. It was not the numbers that guided me in those moments, it was looking at things with fresh eyes and humanity. That probably explains why I have so many photos of my hotels on Instagram.
Listen to new genres of music. Music your brain cannot predict. When rhythm is unfamiliar, the brain wakes up. That discomfort is good. It stretches a muscle we rely on constantly in marketing: pattern recognition. The stronger that muscle, the better you will be at navigating complexity later.
Move your body. Exercise is not about aesthetics, it is about mental clarity. Movement strengthens not just the body, but the brain. And in marketing, your brain is your main tool. If you run or swim, pick one topic you are struggling with and obsess over it during the workout. You will be surprised how often clarity shows up once the mind is free from screens and sitting still.
Concentration deserves its own space. Back in 2020, I cut social media out of my life completely. I did it to reduce noise in a very difficult year. It was not an easy move. I was expected to be on top of social media, to know what my hotels and competitors were doing, to react fast. Not once did stepping away become a problem. By reducing my social media consumption, I gave myself time to think, to create, and to build better plans. I started advising hotels not based on what others were doing, but on clearer and more creative perspectives.
Even today, at Everything Now, I barely look at social media. When I do consume content, it is from sources I consciously choose. And just as importantly, I make sure to be present with people. Some of the most valuable insights do not come from feeds, they come from conversations. Pay attention to smart and creative people, listen properly, and you will always stay ahead.
And finally, rest. Sleep well. Do less. Focus on fewer things and do them better. Attention is a scarce resource, and concentration is becoming a competitive advantage. Protect it.
The festive break is not about disconnecting from reality. It is about reconnecting with yourself, so when January comes, you show up clearer, sharper and more intentional.
That is where good work starts.
