The very best book on controlling stress is no help if you can’t find time to read it.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
This year, the two most celebrated Holidays of the year, Christmas and New Year, are on two consecutive weekends.
That gives us five weekdays between these two busy Holidays. If ever there was a time carved out for some rest, this is it.
Many people spend the weeks in early December leading up to Christmas in a state of Holiday busyness in addition to the regular bustle of going to work, raising families, and other activities and pursuits. We bring some of that extra Holiday hustle and bustle upon ourselves through what we think we should be doing for the December Holidays. However, some people plunge into all the preparations with a glad heart and every intention to enjoy themselves. But, even for them, it’s still a very hectic season.
There’s the decorating, which in many cases began before Thanksgiving.
Much of that decoration is beautiful and elaborate—and appreciated by many! But it takes a great deal of time. Then there’s the shopping for gifts. That takes time, thought, and energy. While online shopping has made that easier, there still are some gifts you must run out to the store or the mall to purchase, so there are shopping trips to plan and execute.
Of course, those gifts need to be wrapped.
Some of us (including myself) spend excessive time wrapping those gifts “just right,” which means attractively or even stunningly. (For me, beautiful wrapping is part of the gift I’m giving.)
Then there’s the special cooking and baking that so many people do for the Holidays. Much of it involves family and cultural traditions, which makes it all extra special. It’s enjoyable, but it takes time.
And don’t forget the visiting, parties, and various gatherings for work, with friends, and with family. More planning, preparation, and time.
This is all supposed to be for our fun and enjoyment, and I hope it is for you.
I enjoy every bit of the decorating, shopping, baking, food preparation, and gathering of family, friends, and work buds. It energizes me, and I squeeze as much enjoyment as possible from each phase of the celebration.
But it also can exhaust me if I’m not careful to pace myself. (One of the advantages of growing older is experience! I’ve spent more than a few Christmases wearing myself out, but now I know better.)
This is why I bring up these five days between Christmas and New Year.
With the Holidays landing on the weekend this year, these five days seem perfect for slowing everything down and pausing to catch our breath and reflect on a few things.
Schools are out this week, and many people can take vacation time from work. That provides an ideal opportunity to spend unscheduled time with family or friends, relaxing and enjoying a leisurely pace of life for a few days. Time spent that way is extremely valuable in recharging relationships and well-being.
Even if you can’t take time off from work, you can still slow down the pace and stay home for some quiet evenings of relaxation. Try going to bed early and getting extra sleep. It’ll do wonders!
And what might you do during those quiet times?
I read an interesting article by Ruth Soukup, a very successful entrepreneur with a growing list of brand websites: Living Well, Spending Less; Elite Blog Academy; and her newest venture, Thinlicious. She is also the author of seven books, a wife, and a mom of two teenagers, so she knows about being busy!
Her article greatly encouraged taking these five days to rest from all your Holiday plans, reflect on 2022 and look ahead to 2023. She suggests:
1. Make a list of your biggest lessons in 2022. What did you learn this year, both from the good things that happened and from the bad? What can you use from this past year to propel yourself forward in 2023?
2. Get clear about your biggest goal. There are probably lots of things you’d LIKE to do in the coming year, but if you could only focus on ONE thing, what would it be?
3. Make a plan. I’m a big fan of a process I call “breaking big into bite-sized.” Start by breaking down your big goal into 5 smaller milestones, then break each of those milestones into 5 smaller steps. Doing it this way can make even the biggest goal seem more manageable, and it will help you focus on what needs to happen first rather than just being overwhelmed.
Her suggestions are pretty wise.
As for me, I will spend time resting and contemplating the last year and the year to come.
I was busy with Holiday activities, but I took time to stop and enjoy each phase of celebrating the Christmas Holiday. That helped keep me from getting exhausted, but I still need these five days to rest, recharge, and reset.
First, I will do that with some low-key visiting with beloved family members. That will energize and encourage my spirit. Then I will take time to prepare for the New Year by reviewing last year’s downs (losing our savings to a scammer) and ups (starting this blog and starting my own virtual assistant business) and what I can learn from all that. I will think about how I will grow my business (I already have a couple of clients) and how we can bounce back from the financial loss we experienced last year.
I look forward to this quiet week with loved ones and with my thoughts. Please rest, recharge, and reset during these five days too!
Happy New Year!! May God bless you richly in this coming year and always!!
