Hocus Pocus and All That
When Holidays Collide, How to Make Time for Yourself
By Maureen Bonatch
Scruff making time to relax after the holidays.
I turned off the light after the last trick-or-treater and extinguished the pumpkins lining our porch. Thoughts of immersing myself in a paranormal or scary movie to continue to enjoy the Halloween vibe filled my mind. As I passed the living room I paused. A Christmas commercial caught my eye. It wasn’t the first one I’d seen, and I was sure it wouldn’t be even close to the last.
As soon as summer begins to wind down and the air starts to chill, the crush of Hallo-thanks-mas-year advertising and promotions settles on our shoulders along with a To-do list heavier than the boxes of holiday decorations. Then, before we can even welcome the New Year, Valentine’s Day decorations fill the stores.
It seems like every month of the year we get busier, yet we still try to fit in all the extra tasks that accompany the holidays. Something’s got to give, and it’s usually the time we devote to ourselves. Maybe it’s time we make that our resolution.
Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That
There are many people who look forward to the holiday season with the same joy they felt as a child. But there seem to be more who become filled with dread for various reasons but often due to the lack of time to create the holiday scenes portrayed on the commercials. We rush to complete the marathon of madness until collapsing with exhaustion after the New Year rings in.
Many writers, including myself, voluntarily choose to raise the bar and pile more on their To-do list by participating in NaNoWri Month (National Novel Writing Month). So how do we enjoy the holidays without giving up the things we enjoy most? Often, we run out of time to do things like writing, reading and other entertaining activities because we are overwhelmed with obligation.
Record That Television Show
The fall and winter seasons bring back tons of our favorite shows to tempt us. With the availability of DVR, Netflix, On-Demand and countless methods to watch our coveted television shows after the fact, it’s easy to eliminate commercials and watch our favorite shows quicker, or at a time that it’s more convenient—or so you can get to bed a little earlier and get extra rest and not get over stressed.
• Tip—save time by multi-tasking. Exercise while you watch your shows, or complete other tedious tasks.
Put yourself at the top of the list
The pressure of the holidays has us trying to find that perfect gift for all the special people on the list. We usually forget one person—us. Now that the holidays have passed, we can put ourselves on the top of that list and enjoy the start of the new year a little more.
You don’t have to buy yourself a gift (but you could when you’re shopping all those spectacular sales) but schedule in the time to relax, turn your thoughts away from any overwhelming thoughts and enjoy a little self-care or pampering.
• Read a book or listen to music while relaxing in a bath
• Take a few minutes before bed to enjoy a scented lotion or candle
Consider the True Joys of The Season All Year
Most won’t remember what gift you got them, or the time-consuming special dish you prepared for the holiday meal—they’ll remember the memories created. Be sure to slow down and make your own memories so you don’t look back to the past months as a blur of stress and obligation. Make every month magical—for you. That’s the true gift that keeps on giving.
How Do You Make Time for Yourself Over the Hallo-Thanks-Mas-Year Holidays?
Originally appeared on the Paranormal Romantic Blog
© 2019 Maureen L. Bonatch All Rights Reserved
Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. http://www.maureenbonatch.com/
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