The Festive Season

I hope you all had a lovely day today. The festive season can bring about much joy but also much stress. There are the added financial pressures of gift giving, entertaining family and catching up with friends. For some it can be a lonely time of year that reminds them of loss, loss of family and friends that are no longer with them or they can't spend time with. Then for those unfortunate enough to have difficult family members or complex family relationships there is the added pressure and expectation to spend time together when it may not be a joyous experience for everyone involved. Of course, this isn’t just related to Christmas day either, people may find themselves under stress if they have credit card bills owing to pay for the festive celebrations for months to come. The point of this post is to remember that you and your needs are important too! If you don’t want to spend time with someone don’t allow yourself to be pressured into it. If dealing with a family member is becoming more difficult each year maybe the relationship is something you can choose to work on during the year without the loaded expectations of the festive season. But in the meantime, you can make sure you get to spend time with people who help you recharge and feel the joy of the season.

If you or your children are finding the change in routine (or lack of routine) difficult it might be helpful to plan out what you will do with your holiday time, so you feel you are achieving something and not just waiting for your return to work. Most importantly though you need to look at how you can look after yourself. Is there a sport of hobby you have been considering trying out? Have you been wanting to watch a movie, red a book, or write an email to a friend, make time for that now! Prioritize you so you can recharge your batteries and be ready to tackle the New Year and return to your normal routine once work and school resumes.

As they say you can’t pour from an empty cup,

Happy Holidays 😊