In "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound transformation through his encounters with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, but when he finally pauses to reflect on his life, Scrooge learns to confront his past actions, understand their impact and envision a more compassionate future. Like Scrooge, leaders can use reflection as a powerful tool to reconnect with their goals and drive meaningful change, writes Scott Hutcheson, co-founder of Hutcheson Associates.

Put it into practice: Work the power of the pause into your daily routine by taking 5- to 10-minute breaks to improve your focus and use the holiday season to contemplate this past year's challenges and accomplishments, Hutcheson writes. "Pausing during the holidays is more than restorative -- it lays the groundwork for future innovation and resilience."

Data shows that at least 20% of workers feel isolated on a daily basis, but, as a leader, you can help them feel more connected by creating a culture that emphasizes respect and engagement, says S. Chris Edmonds. "When your vibrant work culture becomes a reality, instead of isolation and loneliness, your employees experience respect, validation, mentorship, camaraderie, proactive problem-solving and (God forbid) fun in daily interactions," says Edmonds.

Put it into practice: When your team feels connected to one another and the company's mission, their engagement, retention and results all improve, Edmonds says. "These benefits sustain as long as the respect-based work culture sustains, whether your business operates with employees working remotely, working in an office or a hybrid."

At 26, Elle Fanning is making her mark in entertainment, playing Catherine the Great in "The Great" and as Bob Dylan's first girlfriend in the biopic "A Complete Unknown." Fanning and her sister Dakota started their own production company, Lewellen Pictures, that has focused on female leads, but Fanning says she'd like to branch out. "I think the underbelly of the things that people are scared to talk about or scared to touch, or subjects that might be scary for people to adapt, that's what interests me a lot."

Research indicates that human cognitive processing operates at only 10 bits per second, much slower than the sensory data intake rate, according to a study in Neuron that explores the disparity between our brain's internal processing speed and the vast sensory data it receives. The researchers propose that this slow processing speed may be an evolutionary trait, as our ancestors adapted to environments where rapid decision-making wasn't essential.

As the busyness of the holiday season begins to slow down, I hope you take Scott Hutcheson's advice and carve out some time for reflection in the coming days. Pausing during this season can help us more clearly see where we've been over the past year and where we desire to go in the new year.

Creating a habit of pausing during the day, even for a short few minutes, can help reduce stress and increase our focus and attention, Hutcheson notes. Use this technique with your team as well and incorporate "pause points into team routines to reflect on progress, celebrate wins and recalibrate goals," Hutcheson writes.

As Hutcheson notes, Scrooge was transformed not by hard work but by taking time to reflect on his past, assess his present condition and set new goals for his future.

I hope you have time this season to pause and enjoy the holidays, whether you're celebrating the Christmas season, Hanukkah, Kwanza or other traditions. Happy holidays!

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