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When you look at a calendar on the wall, you know when it’s a holiday. But when you look at your mobile phone, things feel like just another day (maybe it’s a random Tuesday).

Our devices aren’t aware of the emotions people have this time of year. They know dates merely as mechanical facts—that it’s Christmas, or a Sunday (which means the stock market is closed.) As a result, they don’t shift to a peaceful “holiday setting” vibe. In fact, they do quite the opposite. This time of year, we get more tailored push notifications, more emails, and more reels to scroll.

While the real world still sets some boundaries that align with the natural flow of the ending year—banks close, your favorite coffee shop changes its hours—the online world is always on and sets no such boundaries.

There is no “closed” sign on the internet. Online banks still move money at 3:00 AM; emails arrive as usual (and notifications ping through dinner). Our screens don't dim for Christmas morning. They don't pause for reflection or family. The Internet doesn’t stop for any moment of sacred pause. Time, day, and date dissolve into it. 

Because of this, we are at risk of forgetting what a holiday actually is.

If we go by old-school definition, a holiday is a “suspension of general business.” Today, holidays have lost that essence and in some ways just feel symbolic. Unfortunately, a holiday is meant to be different from a regular Tuesday.

Have you felt a difference over the holidays this year? Or have you been treating the recent days off as an excuse to stay in bed longer? Do you find yourself reaching for your smartphone during a quiet evening, not out of need, but out of habit?

One place where it’s easy to witness this shift in priorities and values is at the family dinner table. Once upon a time, many families sat down for meals together. All members of the family were not only just present, but they also participated in lively discussions. 

Now, it’s rare to see families dine together. And if they do, they often watch screens while they eat. We are physically present, but mentally elsewhere.

The danger of modern convenience is that now every holiday turns into a void of mindless behavior. It becomes an excuse not to reflect or explore, but to numb yourself by catching up on a Netflix series you missed or spending more time online, just to pass the responsibility-free time.

This week, as we conclude the festive season, try to find the “off” switch that your device doesn't have. You need to set the right intention if you want to have a holiday that you won’t regret wasting. 

It’s far better to deal with your unread emails after a holiday is over than to ignore the true meaning of holidays and be disturbed by work.

Engage in the seemingly brave act of turning off your screen, and instead, look straight into eye of your family members, start a meaningful discussion (even if there’s blankness initially—it’s normal if you need ice-breakers), and realize that this moment—right here, right now—is your moment to take a sacred and purposeful pause.

Let the screen sleep. You have a life to wake up to.

Find out how to manage and monetize your content library on January 14th as industry pioneers from Forrester Research and media executives formerly of ESPN, Disney, and Comcast reveal how to get on the cutting edge of content operations with the help of AI.

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