Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time to Step Back (Yes, Even From Job Searching)

The end of the year can bring mixed feelings. For many, December is about winding down after a hectic semester. For others, it’s about keeping one eye on the academic job market or scrolling through job boards late at night. If you’ve been juggling teaching, research, and applications—or if you’ve been job hunting outside academia in this tough market—you’re probably running on fumes.

Here’s your reminder: you’re allowed to step back. In fact, you need to.

Why I’m Taking Time Off (and You Should Too)

I’ll be taking time away from Scholarly Transitions from Dec. 22nd through to Jan. 5th, and I also encourage you to find time for relaxation and respite. Constantly grinding doesn’t just drain your energy; it dulls your perspective. Taking intentional rest lets you return in January with clarity, creativity, and a little more resilience.

Rest as Strategy (and Resistance), Not Laziness

Research shows that recovery is what keeps people sharp and creative. Your brain can’t keep producing if it never gets to recharge. If you’re a student, a few days away from your research can actually help you return with new insights. If you’re job hunting, a pause lets you reset emotionally so you don’t burn out sending applications into the void.

And there’s also a bigger truth here—one that Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, has articulated powerfully. She argues that rest is not just personal wellness, but a form of resistance to grind culture and capitalism. When you give yourself permission to slow down, you’re refusing the idea that your worth is tied to constant output. Rest becomes a boundary, a reclaiming of your humanity in systems that reward exhaustion and call it dedication.

Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time to Pause

• Academia slows down: Faculty, administrators, and journals often go quiet in late December. You’re not missing much.

• Hiring slows, too: Most organizations freeze or delay hiring over the holidays. That means the jobs will still be there in January.

• You need it: After months of deadlines, grading, research, or rejection letters, your body and mind deserve recovery.

If You're Struggling with Guilt at Taking Downtime...

If your inner critic resists downtime, treat rest as an investment:

• A walk or nap is fuel for future focus.

• Time with family or friends strengthens your support system.

• Doing something creative or playful keeps your mind flexible.

The Takeaway

Rest doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re giving yourself the capacity to keep going. Whether you’re writing a dissertation or trying to break into a new career, you’ll show up better after real rest than after a joyless holiday spent glued to your laptop.

This season, let yourself pause. It’s not wasted time—it’s necessary time. On that note, see you all in January.

Looking for support in navigating your career journey? Let’s chat — it’s free, and you’ll walk away with actionable steps to start your journey.

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© 2025 Marya T. Mtshali. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.