Getting through the Holidays: Down Time

In my last post, I discussed ways that you can reach out and be with others while you are struggling with your emotions during the holidays. While you shouldn’t lock yourself in your home until after the New Year, there are times during the holidays where the constant activity becomes too much and you may need alone time. You need time to deal with your emotions and to reflect.

If your holiday season is as hectic as mine, you may actually have to schedule down time. I know that I need at least a little bit of down time so I try to reserve one night where we don’t have twenty million things to do and I can just chill, whether I want to watch a holiday special, write, or just veg out.

Below are a few suggestions of things you can do when you are able to make some “down time” for yourself.

• Journal – During your down time, you may want to write in your journal. Journaling is a great way to purge some of the many emotions the holidays bring up. Journal in your personal journal or if you have a journal that you are saving for your child one day, journal in that one about how much you are missing and thinking of your child. You could also write a letter to your child along the same lines and keep it until your child is older. This is something you could do on all major holidays and birthdays.
• Scrapbook/Life book – If you are making a scrapbook or life book for your child, make a page about some of your personal favorite Christmas memories or some of the holiday traditions that are unique to your family. This will be nice for your child to read one day.
• Pamper Yourself – Pamper yourself during your down time by taking a nap, reading a good book, taking a hot bath, or painting your nails (and toe nails!) Christmas red. Do something nice for yourself, you deserve it!
• Do something you Enjoy – Whether crafting, baking, or just watching movies is your thing, do something that you find relaxing and that you enjoy doing.

It really doesn’t matter what you are doing during your alone time, as long as you get a little bit of it to reflect and relax.

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Related Posts:
Christmas isn’t Always Merry for Everyone
Getting through the Holidays with Other People

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