Blogger: Rachel Kent
We are well into the holiday season already! Wow. I’m still shocked that it is December and we have 20 days until Christmas! The holidays are a time to refresh and recharge before we all jump into the new year, yet many of us still need to reach some work-related goals during Christmas break. How do you go about doing this while still focusing on family and also on God, who’s amazing love is the cause for all of the celebration?
I have a few tips for you, and I’d love to hear how you have successfully balanced writing and family during the holidays, too.
1) Don’t neglect a deadline because of the holidays. Set aside a time each week, whether it be Mondays and Tuesdays or 8 a.m.-noon each day to write and reach your goals. If you have a designated time for writing, you will be able to designate time for your family as well. You will also still be able to make that deadline.
2) Tell your family and friends ahead of time which days you are free and which are planned work days. This will help to cut down on those last-minute plans that throw off everything. Establishing a holiday schedule will save you from headaches and late nights while you try to catch up on the writing time that was missed.
3) If you aren’t on a deadline, consider setting the writing aside for two weeks and really spend that time with God and family. You will be able to jump back into your writing in the new year feeling refreshed and ready to write. Writing is a job, and almost everyone who can manage it takes time off from their jobs over Christmas. Allow yourself the same respite if you can.
4) Don’t work on Christmas and make time for church and time with God. The “holy days” should still be holy, even if you are busy.
5) Don’t skip your traditions because you are too busy. Families cling to holiday traditions. They are important to children especially, but everyone loves the traditions each year. If you go to the special children’s play at your church each year; or if you chop down your own Christmas tree; or if you bake cookies with friends, don’t change these fun times. You will regret not having spent that time with your family or friends after this busy season is over.
6) Evaluate your priorities and responsibilities and focus your attention appropriately.
7) Don’t over-commit yourself. If you are already bringing a dish to a church potluck, then don’t agree to bake pies for the annual Christmas party at your wife or husband’s work. If you meet with people at a care home, consider skipping the door-to-door Christmas caroling. Stay involved, but don’t over do it.
How do you balance work and family around the holidays?
What are some of the traditions you like to keep each year?
These are all GREAT tips. I’m planning on taking time off from my writing while my kids are on Christmas break. One thing I haven’t done in a while is just go somewhere inspiring for a few hours. I’m sensing a field trip in my near future! Have a special Christmas season!!
Great tips, Rachel. Knowing your family norms helps too. For example, when I am with my in-laws, we are an on-my-device family while we visit, watch TV, read/write, and eat buffet style. Nobody gets upset about it, and we are still together spending time.
But with my family, we play board games and have more interaction while sitting around a table for a meal. I would not dream of being on my device much around them until cabin fever hits, or we get tired of each other. That’s prime time writing work time then.
December is always a bit interesting for us, as our daughter Katie has a birthday…today!!
So I used to hold off on Christmas until I made sure she felt birthday’d. Until I found out that she is the MOST ridiculously over the top Christmas fan in our whole family. Both sides. It’s just hilarious. She’s 24, and I expect her to have a completely serious talk with me today about why I don’t have an Elf on the shelf. (Not. Ever. Gonna. Go. There.)
Hubs is a tree scientist, so choosing the tree takes on epic levels of critical inspection. My requirements are that it is a) green and b) not too tall to scrape the ceiling, and c) in the house.
Do NOT worry about needle density, okay??? It does not matter!!! He usually finds a lovely tree and manages to impress us all.
I do have a *slight* obsession with colour scheme and the abundance of pewter ornaments. And yes, I still hang the ornaments that the kids made in kindergarten. But not the sorta golden macaroni wreath on a paper plate, I think one of the dogs ate that in 1996.
Oh, darn. I know, right? #momfailbutIdon’tcare
Ahem…
While I’m all about the tree, my kid’s traditions fall into the edible category. They get apoplectic if their favourite cookies are not in abundance.
And Zelda’s Ham. Long story. It involves ham. If that ham is not there? Well, now that we have a law enforcement officer in the family? If that very special ham is missing, not to mention the VAT of gravy, an immediate arrest can and will be made.
Jennifer, I love this. 🙂 Your humor makes me smile. Our traditions aren’t all about food. Yet. With so many restricted diets in our house, it’s hard to get too excited about food. But, I don’t have teenagers yet. 🙂
We also drive around town on Christmas Eve, after church, looking at the lights. There’s huge estate/property near our house that puts a giant skating…thing…on the lawn near the pond. We argue over if it’s a penguin or a snowman until we’re blue in the face.
OH! And the Lord of the Rings Director’s Cut Marathon. Thankfully we have a teeth rattling sound system, otherwise I’d miss the part right before Aragorn did whatever and didn’t make it to the TV room on time.
To check on the kids.
Yeah, let’s go with that.
Jennifer,
You make me smile. So much! 🙂
Ha ha! The macaroni wreath on a paper plate! Yeah, I have a whole stack of those in our Christmas box … and that’s where they stay. 🙂 But notice, I still have them. 🙂 My oldest insisted we put less ornaments on the tree this year.
I took Taco Bell burritos to the Advent potluck Wednesday night (10 for $12) and they were gone as soon as I put them in the basket on the table . . . Just sayin’.
Feliz Navidad and pass the guac!!
Okay, Michelle. This made me giggle out loud! haha
That. Is. Genius.
I love Taco Bell!
Thank you, Michelle for just sayin’.
I polled my kids a few years back about the traditions they treasure and learned that I could cut back my holiday cooking without traumatizing them. As long as there are cookies for dessert.
Balancing work and family is tricky, but I’m really working to focus on being all in each moment, especially when the boys are home. I’m finding that during this season, writing will happen as I’m able to fit it in. There’s a lot going on right now, and I’m going to be a stressed out mess if I try to squeeze everything in. 🙂 So, saying no to a few things and making sure we do those things the boys love are at the top of my priority list.
Four our traditions, we take out a jigsaw puzzle and work on it together, whenever time allows. Usually it comes out Thanksgiving week, but this year it’s coming out this weekend. 🙂 We decorate our tree together while blasting Christmas music from the stereo in the other room.
On Christmas Eve, we have our celebration. We go to the boys’ favorite restaurant for lunch, come home and read Luke 2. And then we thank God for the presents. THEN we open them. We go to Christmas Eve service that evening. On Christmas day we spend the day with my extended family about an hour away. We’ve found keeping time for the four of us makes Christmas special.
Sorry for the novella!
Please do NOT let your kids tell my kids of this “giftS on Christmas Eve”.
I love that you make a day just for your 4.
I love the puzzle idea. We’ve tried this. I have a hard time taking apart something I’ve worked so hard on. 🙂 It hurts. 🙂
Great tips, Rachel!
I’m taking about a two week blog break around Christmas.
I plan to watch old movies, read great books, and drink in the beauty of this holy season.
Our teenage daughter wants to update my outdated wardrobe. Somehow, I don’t think I’d look good in hot pink leggings and a polka dot hoodie. But… I might go blond. What does everyone think? Would that ruin my brand???? 🙂
You? Blond? I have to see it!! Haha!! Just make sure your DD picks out plenty of red clothes and you’ll be happy!
Oh, Jill. You do know me. 😉
We watch It’s a Wonderful Life when we put up the Christmas tree. You don’t actually get to watch the movie, but you hear it. And we always repeat, “It come in handy down here, Bub.”
My youngest bought an Advent devotional book for $1 at church. I just saw her reading it yesterday and asked if we could read it all together every day up until Christmas. It has 25 devotions. She agreed! 🙂
And I think we’ve figured out that watching Hallmark Christmas movies is now a new tradition. I sneak in a Shark Tank from time to time!
I never try to keep track of how many spritz cookies I eat during this time of year. My mom makes the best!
Tonight we will attend a program at our church called Stations of Advent. I think it will help me posture my heart for the coming weeks.
Rachel, I hope this holiday is extra special for you and your family.
I am not quite up to thinking about Christmas, but did want to offer thanks for the prayers and support during what has been rather a trying interlude.
Not much to tell about The Day, anyway. Our house has 26 living, breathing, playing, and barking ornaments, and they make my life Christmas morning every day, with their deafening chorus of hope and love.
So glad that you are back commenting on the blog Andrew and feeling a bit better. We missed you.
Thank you, Kristen.
Andrew, welcome back.
One foot in front of the other, stepping around that which threatens to trip you up, and holding the hand of the One who sustains you.
Each of us is blessed by you and your faith.
Yes, Jenni, exactly that. I am still stepping from rock to rock, as it were, and the path is far from smooth, but the willing and gentle hands that have helped me along are my salvation.
Seeing your name among the comments is the highlight of my day! We’ve all missed your wise words, Andrew.
Shirlee, thank you so much. Writing, and formulating coherent thoughts, still take quite an effort. But at least now I know what I am trying to say. I think.
Andrew!!! Welcome back!!! 🙂
Thank you, Cindy, it’s good to be here.
We have missed you, Andrew.
Thank you, Shelli. At the risk of partially unintentional humour, I have missed me, as well.
Andrew, it’s so good to see you here today. 🙂
As to writing during the holidays. I just always use my same old strategy. Can’t write because you have 3 small boys tearing the place apart in all their wild beauty. 4:00am is your writing friend. Can’t write because it is Thanksgiving or you have a meeting or volunteer that day. 4:00am is your friend. OK, the only time this does not work is when you are sick. Sadly, 4:00am is not a friend when you have strep throat for 3 weeks because you never got around to going to the Dr. because you are sure that it will just go away. But besides that…4:00am folks, no one in their right mind will want to take that time away from you. All the sane people are asleep!
I am not asleep at 0400, but then, even prior to amnesia, my sanity was always a subject for debate.