Build in something fun for you

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” the famous song goes. The lyrics are mostly about lovely decorations and festivities, but there’s also a line in the middle that “Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again!”

If you have school-aged kids, they are most likely off school now for at least the next week and a half. No doubt you and your family have figured out coverage for days you have to be in the office, but I know a lot of parents take days off over the holidays too. By January 1st, everyone can be getting a little antsy.

So if that sounds like your situation, take a moment this weekend to think about how you might plan in something fun for you during this time.

Maybe it’s an adults-only dinner at a restaurant without chicken nuggets (I mean, unless you really like chicken nuggets!). Maybe it’s a meet-up with friends, or going to a concert. If you’ll need childcare coverage, figure out who can work, or figure out a trade-off with your partner, another relative, or friends.

But do make sure there is something you can genuinely look forward to. It’s great to make memories as a family over the holidays, but everyone needs a little break. Planning in something fun for you can make everything feel more festive.

This article originally appeared in an email to my newsletter subscribers. You can sign up at https://lauravanderkam.com/contact/.