Slowing down to end the year
The Christmas and New Year period is often talked about as a time for rest, joy and slowing down. But for many of us, it can end up being one of the busiest times of the entire year. Catch ups, events, shopping, family commitments, work deadlines and social expectations can pile up quickly. What is meant to feel light and enjoyable can easily start to feel overwhelming
It is very easy to get swept up in the busyness of this time of year. Calendars fill before we have really had a chance to pause. There can be an unspoken pressure to show up everywhere, do everything and make the most of every moment. Rest often gets pushed aside with the idea that we can slow down later. But later does not always come
The truth is, the whole point of this season was never to leave us feeling drained. It was meant to be a pause. A chance to soften a little, slow down and spend time with people and moments that actually matter to us
Allowing yourself to rest during this time is not lazy, selfish or wrong. It is necessary. Many of us reach the end of the year already tired from months of juggling responsibilities and pushing through. Choosing rest over constant movement is a way of taking care of yourself. It is listening to what your body and mind have been asking for all along
Enjoyment is just as important. And it does not need to look big or impressive. Enjoyment can be simple. Sleeping in without an alarm. Sitting outside with a coffee. Letting conversations run long. Watching familiar movies because they feel comforting. These small moments still count. Often, they are the ones that help us feel like ourselves again
This time of year can also be a reminder that there is no right way to do Christmas or New Year. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to skip events that feel more draining than joyful. You are allowed to change traditions or create quieter versions that suit where you are at right now. There is no award for pushing yourself past your limits
Rest might look like slower mornings and unplanned days. Enjoyment might look like doing things simply because they feel good, not because they are productive or impressive. When we give ourselves a little space, it becomes easier to notice what we actually need. More sleep, fewer plans, less noise
As the year comes to a close, it can be tempting to jump straight into reflection, goal setting and planning for what is next. There will be time for that. It is okay to let the year settle first. To allow things to land without rushing to make sense of everything. Clarity often comes more easily when we are rested
This Christmas and New Year, consider choosing presence over pressure. Rest over rushing. Enjoyment over obligation. Not every moment needs to be meaningful or productive. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply allow ourselves to slow down and enjoy where we are
The point of this season was never to do more, it was to feel more and that starts with giving yourself permission to rest
