Okay so… Holy Week is coming up again.

And if you are anything like me, you have probably spent at least one Semana Santa either doing absolutely nothing or feeling really, really guilty about doing absolutely nothing.

Don’t worry. Those feelings are valid. You don’t need to beat yourself up for doing nothing.

But this year, maybe we can do things a little different.

Holy Week in the Philippines, especially here in Davao, is one of the most sacred times of the year.

It is a period of reflection, of rest, of going home to the province maybe, attending the Visita Iglesia, watching Senakulo… it is a deeply personal and cultural time for most of us.

You can choose to do nothing the entire time or get up and do something, even just a little something that keeps you steadily moving towards your goal to become successful.

You don’t have to choose one over the other.

Before we get into the productivity tips, let us first talk about why resting is the foundation of everything.

Chronic overwork without rest leads to burnout, decreased creativity, and poor decision-making.

In short?

If you never stop, you stop performing well.

And I’ve been guilty of overwork and guess what? I’ve stopped working completely some days only to pick it up again a few days later or something.

Holy Week is four to five days in the Philippines (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday). The government recognizes several of these as special non-working holidays.

It is literally the country saying: slow down.

Take that seriously.

Rest is not laziness.

Rest is maintenance.

Think of yourself like a computer… if you never shut it down, it slows down, overheats, and eventually crashes.

A good restart clears the cache and makes everything run smoother.

8 Things You Can Do This Holy Week to Level Up

Here are 8 realistic, doable things you can focus on this Holy Week. These are not about working harder. They are about working smarter and growing as a person and as a profesional.

1. Take a Real, Long, Guilt-Free Break

No seriously.

Start with this one.

Give yourself at least one full day, Good Friday is a good day to do that. My dad who never really takes a break always treats Good Friday as the day to rest.

This should be a day where you do not think about work at all.

Go to church.

Pray.

Eat good food.

Sleep in.

Watch something on Netflix.

Go to the beach if you can!

This is not wasted time.

This is necessary recovery.

Research proves that taking breaks from a task can dramatically improve your ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods.

So the break is actually part of the productivity strategy.

Enjoy it without guilt!

2. Take Care of Things You Have Been Neglecting

You know that pile of things you keep saying you will do “when you have time”?

This is the time. Maybe it is organizing your digital files.

Maybe it is finally sorting out your BIR registration as a freelancer. Maybe it is deep cleaning your workspace or fixing that leaking faucet you have been ignoring since January.

Clearing mental clutter by ticking off long-overdue tasks gives you a surprising boost in focus and motivation when you get back to work. These small wins matters more than we think.

3. Read a Book

Holy Week is honestly perfect for reading.

It is quiet, there is less noise and hustle, and you have real uninterrupted time.

Pick up a book you have been meaning to read.

Some book recommendations depending on where you are in life right now:

• For freelancers: “Company of One” by Paul Jarvis… a really eye-opening look at building a sustainable solo career.

• For motivation: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear… teaches you how small habits actually compound into big results.

• For money mindset: “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey… especially useful if you want to fix your finances as a freelancer.

• For Filipinos specifically: “Piso Para Sa Pagbabago” if you can find it… or any local personal finance book in Filipino. Hey… if you can find it… can you send me a link?

Even reading just one book this Holy Week puts you ahead of a lot of people who spent the whole break just doom scrolling on social media or playing time wsting online games.

4. Take Online Lessons and Get Certified

One of the best investments you can make this Holy Week is learning something new. And I do not mean casually watching YouTube videos (though that counts too!). I mean actually enrolling in a structured course and getting a real certification.

One of my top recomendations? Get Google Ads Certified.

Google Skillshop  offers free certification courses for Google Ads, Google Analytics, and more. These are free, self-paced, and recognized globally. For freelancers in Davao who work with clients online, having a Google certification on your profile is a legitimate competitive advantage.

Other platforms to check out:

• Coursera … offers courses from top universities. Some are free to audit.
• HubSpot Academy … free certifications in digital marketing, content marketing, and inbound sales.
• LinkedIn Learning … first month is often free for new users.
• Udemy … regular sales where courses go as low as a few hundred pesos.
• YouTube … honestly underrated for learning. Search for full course playlists.

Even one or two certifications added to your portfolio this week can open doors when you get back to pitching clients.

5. Acquire New Skills Intentionally

This is different from taking courses. Acquiring skills means actually practicing, not just watching. If you enrolled in a copywriting course, write copy. If you watched a tutorial on Canva design, open Canva and design something.

Think about what skills are in demand right now for freelancers in the Philippines:

• Video editing (CapCut, DaVinci Resolve)
• Graphic design (Canva, Adobe Illustrator)
• SEO writing and content creation
• Social media management
• Basic web development (HTML, CSS, WordPress)
• Virtual assistance skills
• Email marketing (Mailchimp, ConvertKit)

Pick one or two that align with the kind of clients you want to attract and spend even just two or three hours practicing during the break. Consistency over intensity, always.

6. Practice Writing, Start a Blog, Grow Your Earning Potential

Writing is one of the most underrated skills for freelancers. It helps you communicate better with clients, market your services, and even create a new income stream through blogging or content creation.

Holy Week is a good time to finally start that blog you keep thinking about. A blog does a few powerful things for you:

• It builds your personal brand and establishes you as an expert in your field
• It becomes a portfolio piece you can show to clients
• It can eventually earn money through ads (Google AdSense), affiliate marketing, or sponsored posts
• It forces you to think clearly and articulate your ideas… which makes you better at everything else

You do not need a fancy website to start. You can use WordPress.com (free), Blogger (free), or even write on Medium. The goal is to start. Even one article per week, written consistently, builds into something significant over time.

And if you already have a blog?

Use this time to write two or three articles in advance so you have content ready to publish in the coming weeks.

That is called working ahead… and it feels really, really good.

7. Work on Personal Projects That Increase Your Value

A personal project is anything that builds your skills, portfolio, or visibility even if it does not pay you right now. Think of it as an investment in your future self.

Some ideas for freelancers in Davao:

• Redesign your portfolio or LinkedIn profile
• Create a sample project (e.g., write a sample blog post, design a mock logo) to showcase your skills
• Record a short video introducing your services… video content builds trust faster than text alone
• Build a simple website for yourself using free tools like Wix or Carrd.co
• Reach out to past clients for testimonials while you have the time

These activities may feel small in the moment but they accumulate into a stronger professional presence that attracts better clients and better pay.

8. Reflect, Plan, and Set Your Goals for the Rest of the Year

We are already in the second quarter of the year by Holy Week. That means roughly a third of the year is done. Use the quiet time to ask yourself some honest questions:

• Am I earning what I want to be earning?
• Am I working with the kind of clients I enjoy?
• What skills do I still need to develop?
• What habits are holding me back?
• What does the rest of 2025 look like if I stay on this path?

Write your answers down. Not in your phone notes… in a notebook, if you can. There is something about handwriting that makes goals feel more real and commitments feel more personal. Use Holy Week as a spiritual and professional reset.

Quick Pros and Cons of Staying Productive During Holy Week

Just to be balanced about it, here is a quick breakdown:

PROS	CONS
You gain certifications, skills, and momentum	You might feel guilty for not fully resting
You come back to work refreshed AND ahead	Easy to overschedule and burn out even on a break
Free time is used with intention and purpose	Some activities require internet access and data
Your future self will thank you for every hour invested	Family or social time can get sacrificed if not balanced

The key is balance.

Take at least one full rest day.

Then use the other days with intention.

You do not have to do all eight things on this list.

Even two or three done well is already a win.

I Recommend Becoming More Productive…

Here are some resources and products that have genuinely helped me stay focused and motivated. These are affiliate links, meaning it won’t cost you extra to buy them, but I do earn a small commission which helps me keep this website going. Thank you for the support!

Productivity Planner Plan your week with clarity and intention Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon	Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Stay focused even in noisy environments Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon	Atomic Habits by James Clear The go-to book on building better habits Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon
Portable Laptop Stand Work comfortably anywhere, even at home Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon	Journal / Notebook For writing goals, reflections, and ideas by hand Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon	Blue Light Glasses Protect your eyes during long study or work sessions Buy on Shopee Buy on Amazon

It won’t cost you extra to buy it and I get a nice little commission which helps me keep this website going.

Thank you!

You do not need to do everything on this list.

Pick two or three that you can do really well.

Rest on the other days.

Go to church, spend time with your family

… life is short and Holy Week is also about gratitude and presence.

Just do not let the whole break pass without intentionally doing at least one thing that your future self will be thankful for.

That is the real goal here.