How to Rest During Christmas?

As you all know, we are about to enter a wonderful period of celebration and Christmas gatherings. The festive season is just around the corner and we all can hardly wait for the rest and peace we are about to have. Do we?

I wish I could say that, but unfortunately, most people do not know how to rest during Christmas. It is the busiest time of the year, but it should also be seen as a moment of reflection and recharging after a long, productive year. What people seem to forget is how to rest during Christmas.

Everyone wants to start the New Year with a revolution and fresh energy. This is not easy when you feel exhausted after all the drama at home over the festive period, or when you realise that all you did was clean, cook and eat.

There are many ways to relax over Christmas, the only thing you have to do is understand the importance of it.

What is rest and the importance of rest?

As I mentioned, the first thing is to understand what rest is and how important it is. Nowadays we live in such a fast world. In the daily routine, most people do not have enough time to take a proper rest.

The thing is that what most of us call rest or relaxation is really just not fully it. Of course, everyone relaxes in a different way, but what needs to be acknowledged here is that most people do not know how to do it.

Worst of all, people feel guilty about relaxing over Christmas. And that is not the right way to do it.

So, let’s answer the simple question: what is rest? Rest means to stop doing a particular activity or stop being active for a period of time in order to relax and get back your strength. Simple, isn't it?

Sounds like the easiest thing in the world! And of course, there is nothing difficult about it. But resting over Christmas is a very different matter. You really have to know how to plan it in order to achieve it.

Also, many people seem to forget how important rest is for your health and general well-being. In terms of work, proper rest allows you to be more efficient. Relaxing and unplugging over Christmas will help:

1.     Heal your body

2.     Reduce stress

3.     Boosts creativity

4.     Improves productivity

5.     Improves decision making

So why should you allow yourself to get Christmas fever and not benefit from all this? Resting during the holidays is supposed to slow you down before the New Year begins.

Ways to really relax over Christmas

Here are some useful tips to really relax over Christmas. Hopefully, they can help you to succeed and have a peaceful and relaxing holiday.

1.     Set realistic expectations

First of all, please remember to set realistic expectations.

By that, I mean knowing how much time we really have. People seem to cram Christmas with useless activities or tasks that do not allow you to rest.

Let's focus on reality and realise that the holidays are not as long as they seem to be. Christmas time is not somehow extended and does not allow us to do much more than usual. So the first and most important thing to do is to set expectations that correspond to reality.

Don't make elaborate plans, decorations, or tidy up too much. In the end, it's all about enjoying and relaxing.

2.     Plan and prioritize rest

Planning and prioritizing rest is the next step. All you need to do is plan your rest in advance.

If you really want to rest over Christmas, you need to make it your top priority. This step will really help you relax over the holidays. Of course, not all of us are good planners, and we cannot expect everyone to be. But imagine what a difference setting aside an hour or two for self-care can make. Just remember to keep it simple and doable.

Read more about prioritizing self-care during the holidays to really understand what we mean here.

3.     Disconnect from work

Another way to relax over Christmas is to remember to disconnect from work. This will really improve your rest and make you feel more relaxed. Disconnecting from work has more benefits than you can imagine.

First of all, it supports your work-life balance, then it improves productivity and last but not least, it reduces stress. Learning how to disconnect from work isn't easy, but once you master this valuable skill, you will appreciate how much easier this makes your life.

4.     Unplug from technology

Simple but difficult, eh? I don't want to make a speech here about how social media or technology runs our lives.  Let's just spread some awareness that Christmas could be a good time to unplug from technology.

Just give yourself a break. That's the message. Make this time more about you or your loved ones. The Internet can be overwhelming, so let's put it aside for this time of year.

I am sure this will make your Christmas break more efficient and peaceful. Of course, if you wish you can still kick up your social media with some nice Christmas pictures, just don't make it your priority.

5.     Christmas without alcohol

This may be a bit controversial. But let's plan a Christmas without alcohol this year. What do you think? You might be wondering why and what it has to do with rest?

Well, the thing is that alcohol does not really help your body to recover. It might make you feel less stressed for a minute, but that is not our goal. The way to relax on holiday is to think long-term. You want to feel fresh and rested, and trust me, a Christmas without alcohol will give you that.

Instead, celebrate with winter tea or hot chocolate. Make this Christmas more about being cosy and less about getting drunk.

Relaxing activities during Christmas

I just want to give you a few ideas on how to spend your holiday this year. These things are easy and great for replacing the things that you should not do.

They will also help you to really relax during your holiday and create a nice atmosphere.

1. Playing board games

Playing board games is not an activity for everyone. So don't worry if you don't enjoy it, I've got something else for you later on. However, if you do enjoy playing board games, you might want to take advantage of the holiday season.

Playing games is such a great way to get away from the tiring reality and focus on the present moment. Try this activity to reconnect with family or a friend. It is a great way to have a fun evening over Christmas.

2. DIY Projects

Christmas is the best time for small do-it-yourself projects. You can make gifts for your guests or decorations for your home. These activities will stretch your imagination and get you into the Christmas spirit.

Don't worry if you'd like to try this alternative holiday activity but think you're not creative enough. You are more talented than you think! Look for some Christmas DIY project ideas online and give it a try.

3. Baking & Cooking

This is another activity that can be a combination of the pleasurable and the useful. Cooking is relaxing. Cooking, smells, textures and tastes can be one of the many ways to ground yourself.

So take advantage of the festive season to use this tool. You can cook or bake your favourite comfort food. You can make a Christmas dessert, anything that makes you happy.

4. Holiday Movie Marathon

I mentioned disconnecting from technology. But come on, if you want to have a film marathon, that's a completely different thing. Just take it to another level.

Plan it, prepare snacks, choose the best Christmas movie, set the mood, light a candle. Make it all about that special moment and enjoy the film. Put down the phone and focus on a story. I promise it will be better than going to the cinema.

5. Christmas Events

This is my personal favourite. Go to Christmas events. There is bound to be a Christmas play at the theatre or a Christmas market nearby. Dress warmly. Go out and do something nice.

Christmas events are so special, you can eat good food, drink something warm or enjoy some handmade decorations. This is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and forget about reality. Maybe you can also get inspired by something or just meet up with friends and enjoy the event.

What not to do on Christmas Day?

After all the great activities and tips, let's get back to the things you shouldn't do over Christmas. This is quite an important topic when it comes to relaxing over the holidays.

As mentioned above, it would be nice to spend this Christmas without alcohol. But are you wondering what else you should not do over Christmas?

First of all, do not do anything that makes you feel unhappy, overwhelmed or pressured. This is supposed to be a time of regeneration and enjoyment, so remember that.

Secondly, it would be nice to skip arguments about things that will never be resolved. So try to spend the time without politics, economic or any other topics that might make you feel uncomfortable.

Also, remember not to work on things that can be done after the holidays. Don't take on too many projects. Don't make your priorities based on what's falling out. Focus on what you need, which is a little rest.

I am pretty sure that if you stick to these rules, you will have an incredibly calm Christmas.

Is it OK to rest during the holidays?

After all that has been said, are you still wondering if it is okay to rest on holiday? Of course, sometimes it can be difficult to take some time off. But with the right attitude, I am sure you can do it.

Be careful, because maybe you have an unhealthy work culture that keeps you busy. Perhaps you have never prioritised your needs and rest? Or maybe you feel that it is not the right thing to do?

Whatever the case, you should not be thinking that it is not OK to rest over Christmas. Rest over the holidays is important. And it is always the right thing to do. Now that you know how to rest over Christmas and how important it is, you should keep it in mind during this festive season.

You don't have to be a perfectionist and do everything to create a wonderful spirit. Sometimes, it is the simple and small things that help us ground ourselves. Do what you enjoy most and what helps you to relax and recharge over the Christmas period.

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