Christmas is a wonderful time. It is filled with happiness as families get together, gifts are opened, and meals are shared. But it has some serious drawbacks.
Fatigue is one of the biggest drawbacks. There is a huge amount of work that is associated with Christmas. It includes making sure your house is cleaner than usual. It includes bathing the dog or dogs. It obviously includes a lot of time and thought to shopping. Shopping doesn’t end it because then each of those gifts need to be wrapped.
We haven’t mentioned the time and effort setting up the Christmas tree takes and then dreading all the effort it takes to take it down. This does not include all the work of Christmas Day of making a special meal and cleaning up for everyone, picking up all the wrapping paper and putting everything away.
Yes, Christmas is exhausting.
So what should follow this wonderful time. How about spending some time relaxing. Maybe this is the best time to read the book you got for Christmas or the one you have had for the last year that you never sat down long enough to read.
I think my grandson had the right idea on Christmas Day after opening a book he was given. He really liked his new present as he sat there reading the book while everyone else was opening packages. He even was hesitant to open other packages because he was so into reading his new book. He is a very smart person; we should all be so smart.
This is also a good time to reinvest in relationships you have neglected because you have been too busy. Let your children know that you really care about them and are going to spend more time with them. Let your partner know how important you believe your relationship is.
Take time to say “I love you” to the ones in your life that you have been neglecting even a little bit. Make up for being short with them as your life has been so filled with other things to get ready for Christmas.
Take time to think. What do you hope to accomplish this coming year? What would you like to change about this year? What would you like to change about your life? Where do I begin? How do I begin? Think about what is really important to you so you can move that direction.
Most of us forget the importance of taking the time to think. We know that working takes effort. This is important effort so that we accomplish what we hope to accomplish. At the same time, thinking really should be given more effort as well as more time.
Relaxing should be given equal time. This is giving yourself a chance to appreciate what is happening in your life. Actually, when you relax you allow yourself the time to think. You can think back or you can think ahead.
The end result is Christmas in all its glory is over. You now have the time to relax. Instead of feeling just plain exhausted, take the time to relax and think about what you accomplished in this wonderful time of year and feel good about it.
Share your thoughts with others if you feel like it or just relish the thoughts by yourself. You know what would most feel good to you. After all, you are the expert on you.
Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. To reach current First Teacher Executive Director Nicole Brewer, email nicole@firstteacher.org or call 360-681-2250.
