I’m torn as to whether the holiday season helps or hinders behavioural change. On one hand, if someone is successfully implementing behavioural change just before the holiday season, whether from a training program or a fitness regime, they might then go away to take a break and when they come back, the old neural pathways are still stronger than the new neural pathways that they were previously forming. All the momentum that they started to create through the behavioural change is lost.
On the other hand, when I took some time off in Bali last year, I completely switched off – as you should do on a holiday. I took up some new hobbies; I started to learn salsa, I started riding a pushbike around the little area of Ubud (which is beautiful if you ever get a chance to go there) and it initiated new neural pathways that when I returned from my trip I could begin to use here.
In terms of learning, these activities were something new that were learnt in a new context. Therefore, it was a great deal easier to get that neural pathway in place, and since I returned I bought a bike, I’m now cycling much, much more, to and from work every day, something I don’t think I would have done if I hadn’t hired a pushbike when I was away in Ubud.
So, sometimes a holiday can help you create new neural pathways but sometimes it can hinder the momentum of behavioural change.
If learning is something you want to continue after your holiday that you either started before or that you picked up on your holiday, the key thing is to make a plan for when you return to review and refocus to get the momentum going. I often encourage people, particularly if they’re in the middle of some behavioural change before they go away, to diarise and maybe a week after they get back, or once they’ve been in the office maybe 2-3 days, to review their action plans and review their behavioural change. I don’t suggest they do this on day 1 when they get back as when you first get back from a trip you might have a bit of post holiday blues, or you just need to get yourself organised for 2 or 3 days. However, before you get back into the main swing of working in the old habits ensure that you review any actions you’ve already commenced and restart the momentum.
I’d be happy to hear anyone else’s comments as to whether they think holidays are a bonus or a distraction to behavioural change. I look forward to hearing from you.