By Antonio Aragón

I recently got struck deeply by this Adam Grant quote:

“The holidays shouldn’t be a time to recharge… they should be a time to celebrate.”

Because if celebration only happens when work stops, the problem isn’t the calendar… it’s workplace culture. When work consistently drains more than it gives, we are normalizing exhaustion. If we need holidays to recover, it’s worth asking why.

Time off should be a joy, not a survival mechanism. If this is happening, something has been working in the workplace.

Data confirms it:

• 77% of professionals report experiencing burnout (Deloitte).

• Nearly 60% say their stress is primarily work-related (Gallup).

Those numbers shouldn’t really follow us into another year. They shouldn’t define the next chapter.

I encourage my peers to leave those statistics behind and create a new set of numbers, ones that measure energy, dignity, creativity, and sustainable ambition. I also encourage fellow leaders to mindfully consider the well-being of their teams. It is a fact that we are stronger when we are able to rest, diversify activities and experience time of joy.

Opportunity only becomes real if we’re willing to look honestly at where we are, and why we feel the way we do.

If fear is what’s keeping us stuck, unsure, or depleted, let’s change the approach.

I’m always open to sharing my own experience… because doing better starts with being honest. Happy to chat.

The holidays are for celebration.

May 2026 be the year we finally build cultures worthy of it.