The festive season can be a time associated with more – more fun in the sun, more family time and lots of indulgence. But along with these good things come more pressure, greater responsibilities, and extra expense. What if this festive season you decided to simplify things and plan a simpler, more meaningful holiday season with those you love? What would that look like for you?
Check in with your family
As spouses, partners, or parents, we want to make it clear to those we love that what is important to them is also important to us. When it comes to planning a magical and meaningful holiday season a good place to start is to find out what is important to your family and loved ones. One way to do this – especially with your children – is to give them each the opportunity to give you a written list of the activities and events that would mean a lot to them and make the holidays more enjoyable. You may be surprised at their answers.
Whether you are single or married, have children or none, plan to go away, gather with your greater family or spend time mostly relaxing at home with your nearest and dearest, here are 5 tips to having a meaningful holiday break that will leave you relaxed and replenished:
1. Focus on spending meaningful time with your favourite people
The most important part of any holiday is being with family and loved ones. Yet the festive season can be a blur of activity that leaves you exhausted by the end of the holidays. When you are deciding what things are important to include in your ‘holiday favourites’ list, pay attention to planning quality time to spend with the most important people in your life. Do not feel guilty if this means saying no to invitations and events that will eat into important “family” time.
2. Focus on meaningful traditions in your family or friend circle
Traditions draw family members and communities closer together and help to create a sense of belonging. This does not mean that you should feel pressured to follow festive season traditions just for tradition’s sake. No matter what traditions are your favourite, having something to look forward to each year is important. Family traditions do not have to be formal or fancy. Sometimes, the simplest family traditions have a way of being the most magical for everyone, providing memories that draw family and friends closer together year after year.
3. Focus on meaningful activities over the holiday season
Trying new experiences as a family or group of friends is an exciting way to create good memories. What are some things you have been wanting to try out? Are there fun activities that will get your kids away from lounging in front of TV or being glued to their phones and get them out of their comfort zones? Meaningful activities that lend themselves to spending quality time together need not be lavish or expensive. You may enjoy spending time with your children baking holiday treats or prefer to give handmade festive season gifts that have a group of friends doing crafts together. This year, pay attention to the things that you genuinely enjoy doing, and set time aside to pursue them.
4. Focus on those less fortunate than you
If you have a chance to give somebody a better holiday experience this year, take it.
- The festive season can be a challenging time for people who are far from family or alone, without a strong support system. Being drawn into spending time with your family or group can provide them with a sense of comfort and support.
- It is a great time of year to teach your children about giving. Learning that giving goes beyond buying presents and means helping those in need can be an eye-opening experience for children. Doing something together to help others can bring you closer as a family and it provides an opportunity for your children to see you modelling giving.
5. Focus on taking some meaningful timeout for yourself
Do not feel guilty about “putting the ‘i’ in holiday this festive season. Make a commitment to yourself to take care of yourself over the holidays. This could mean re-energising by spending time with good friends or staying at home with a good book. Rather than giving in to the social round and over-indulging, you could prioritise upping your fitness levels and elect to get out into nature to walk, run, cycle, or hike every day. Whatever feeds and fulfills you – make a commitment to yourself to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health over the holidays.
Taking time over the holiday season to relax and recharge gives us a chance to step out of our everyday lives, reflect and consider our goals or next steps. When you take time out from work and commit to unplugging from daily routines, a good break can allow you to tune out external noise and reconnect with yourself. The holidays are a great time to take stock of the things that are precious to you and express appreciation for them. No matter what makes you happy, being thankful for the good things you have in your life will improve your mental well-being this holiday season.
Over to you for sharing your comments and experiences.
About the Author: Kerstin Jatho
Kerstin is the senior transformational coach and team development facilitator for 4Seeds Consulting. She is also the author of Growing Butterfly Wings, a book on applying positive psychology principles during a lengthy recovery. Her passion is to develop people-centred organisations where people thrive and achieve their potential in the workplace. You can find Kerstin on LinkedIn, Soundcloud, YouTube and Facebook.
