Do you have trouble knowing how to relax during a holiday at home? Discover 10 simple ways to rest and recover from your busy year. Recharge this winter break with these great self-care activities!
I like to consider myself a professional vacationer.
When it’s time to relax, I know how to relax. I’ve always been oddly good at doing nothing. Sometimes, that’s not something to brag about, but during the holiday season, I like to consider it a positive trait.
Even for me, though, it can be hard to relax during the Christmas season. It is difficult to find the right balance between social engagements, holiday preparations, and relaxing at home.
Because most people take some time off in December, there can be a lot of pressure to stuff with friends and family or to get work done at home that you don’t normally have time for.
What was supposed to be a relaxing holiday break quickly turns into your busiest and most stressful time of the year.
If you are someone who struggles with this year after year, then you need to check out some of these tips! I’ve got a list of 10 simple ways to rest and recover this winter break so that you can learn to relax during a holiday at home.
I’ve also got a post on how to simplify Christmas and how to make gift-giving simpler so that you are not overwhelmed with activities during your time off.
Tip #1: Understand that not working will not ruin your life or your job performance
One of the things that might be stopping you from being able to relax during a holiday at home is the fact that you are constantly worrying and feeling guilty.
You might be thinking that a day off work is going to seriously set you back in your career, but honestly, it’s not as big of a deal as you think.
Yes, there is a chance that you will miss something or that you will need to put in more work when you return to it.
But at the end of the day, it really doesn’t make that big of a difference.
You are not being selfish or irresponsible by taking a bit of time off work, so let yourself just enjoy the break!
Related Post: How to Find Work-Life Balance When You’re Too Busy
Tip #2: Understand that relaxation is productive, too, as it makes you more ready for work when the time comes
It feels backwards, but it is actually beneficial for your work performance for you to take occasional breaks.
Rest days help you refresh your brain, making you work more creatively and more efficiently when you return to your job.
Bringing work home with you during the holidays might help you cross some things off of the to-do list ahead of time, but allowing yourself to truly rest will make a bigger difference in the long run.
Related Post: Why is the Sabbath important? Reasons You Need Weekly Rest
Tip #3: Understand the value of family time and personal time
Another thing that might make it hard for you to feel okay with resting over the winter break is that you feel it is selfish or lazy.
However, there’s another way to look at it that might make you feel a little less guilty.
Your rest time definitely involves time away from work, but it also involves time closer to friends and family as well as time to care for your body and mind.
You’re not doing nothing. Quite the opposite, actually!
When you take time to rest, you are taking time to prioritize human connection, and that is way more important than any job out there.
True rest is a noble activity.
It is an activity that shows that you value people and that you prioritize the well-being of yourself and those around you.
Taking time for rest is not a selfish choice, so don’t feel guilty for doing it.
Related Post: Things To Do On Christmas Day Your Family Will Love!
Tip #4: Don’t be a hero: let everyone pitch in
Once you’ve gotten comfortable with the idea of resting, you need to actively make that rest happen.
Learning to relax during a holiday at home is not a passive task. It takes work and clear boundaries to make it happen.
One thing you will need to do is make sure that you are not doing everything for everyone over the holidays. Instead, you’re going to want to share the workload so that no one is given too much to do.
When I was teaching and living in Honduras, my fellow teachers would all want to celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas together.
About 40 of us would get together for festive meals, but no one was ever stressed about it because we all took on a little bit of the work.
We would do potluck meals so everyone only had to prepare one item. Whoever was in charge of getting all the chairs and tables and decorations set up didn’t have to make any food.
This would ensure that everyone did something but no one did too much.
To make sure that you don’t get too stressed over the winter break, make sure that you don’t sign up to do all of the work by yourself.
Get friends and family to help prepare meals, clean, decorate, and shop when necessary.
The strongest heroes are the ones who know not to fight alone, so don’t hesitate to ask for help!
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Tip #5: Create an atmosphere of calm with Hygge
I am a person who is very sensitive to my surroundings, so I often can’t relax if the atmosphere around me is my idea of ‘stressful’. I find it hard to relax in a messy home or one without cozy lounging materials.
This is where practicing the art of Hygge can come in handy!
Hygge is the practice of creating a cozy atmosphere that is prime for relaxation.
Here are some ways that you can make your home a Hygge home that will help you recharge this winter break:
- Add fuzzy blankets and pillows all around your home
- Have lots of plants
- Put warm light throughout your home with soft lamps and fairy lights
- Include lots of natural materials, like wood and twine
- Decorate with memorabilia that makes you feel happy
- Always have yummy treats available!
Related Post: 10 Simple Ways to Warm Up Your Winter Nights
Tip #6: Make a to-do list of guilty pleasures
This is one of my favourite ways to rest and recover over the holidays!
Starting December 1, I create an ongoing list of things that I want to do during my time off.
If you want to do it quickly, a simple Brain Dump is effective, as well.
The things I put on this list are all guilty pleasures. They are things that I like to do but often don’t have time for throughout the year.
Usually, it involves some tv shows and movies I want to binge, video games I want to play, and fun art projects I want to do.
I originally started doing this because I often found that when the holidays came around, I ended up feeling listless.
In the moment, I can never remember what it was I was hoping to do over the holidays. I end up wasting time on things I don’t really care about.
By creating a list of all of the fun things you wanted to do, you will get more excited to do them when the winter break starts!
Related Post: How To Do A Brain Dump To Stop Overthinking Now!
Tip #7: Know what relaxes you, not what is stereotypically relaxing
This next tip is a little harder than the rest because it requires some reflection on your part.
If you want to truly recharge this winter break, you need to know what feels like rest to you!
Do face masks and long baths feel like work? Then this is not what you should be doing with your time.
Just because one thing is relaxing for some people doesn’t mean that you will enjoy it.
Take the time to figure out what sorts of things make you feel rested and rejuvenated, and plan around that.
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Tip #8: Get into a flow state with a creative project
The winter break is a great time to get into a flow state and try your hand at something creative!
You have nowhere to be and all the time in the world to get lost in a task.
Additionally, creative outlets are a great way to recharge. You can pick a big project or something small.
Whatever it is, let yourself lose track of time and really get into it!
Related Post: How To Overcome Distractions And Stay Focused With Flow State
Tip #9: Schedule time to relax
This tip is great for anything you want to prioritize, really.
If you want to make sure that you don’t miss doing something, the best thing you can do is put it into your official schedule.
If you want to guarantee that you will have time to relax during a holiday at home, then you need to pencil it into your schedule and honour that appointment.
Personally, I use this tip throughout the year.
I designate specific hours to self-care, and I make sure to treat that time like a real appointment. If someone asks me if I’m busy during that time, I say that I am and that we will have to reschedule.
I also wanted to make a brief note on schedules in general over the holidays. For some of you, a schedule really isn’t necessary.
But if there are any people out there like me (INFJ, anyone?) then entering a day without a general schedule is terribly stressful.
I used to try to go through the holidays without a schedule for myself, but it actually made me way more anxious in the long run.
Even if it is for a day of relaxing, I need a schedule and a routine. Without it, I just feel lost and aimless.
For those of you who feel the same way, don’t feel bad if you have to make a schedule.
It doesn’t have to be precise, but it helps to have a list of the fun/relaxing activities you want to do throughout the day.
It will help you relax more so that you can actually enjoy the day of rest.
Tip #10: Try to vary the type of rest you are doing to feel fully recharged
There are 6 different types of self-care that have been identified.
It is generally understood that you can’t feel fully rested until you have given attention to every style of rest.
Related Post: 6 Important Types Of Self-Care Habits You Need In Your Life!
Here are the types of rest you need to take part in before you can fully recharge this winter break:
- Emotional self-care
- Practical self-care
- Physical self-care
- Mental self-care
- Social self-care
- Spiritual self-care
Social self-care
This style of rest is for relaxing with friends and family. This might mean going to a big family gathering if that’s what fuels you, or it might mean a movie night with loved ones.
Related Post: Your Complete Guide to Social Self-Care • Everything You Need To Know
Emotional self-care
This style of rest requires time alone. During this time, you need to prioritize reflection and listening to your body and mind.
Related Post: 27 Unbelievably Easy Ways To Practice Emotional Self-Care
Physical self-care
Your physical body needs some attention, and this style of rest will ensure that it is cared for. This is time for you to address your body’s needs and care for it.
Related Post: 15 Physical Self-Care Activities Guaranteed To Boost Your Health
Mental self-care
This style of rest is for you to get your brain in optimal condition. It means getting those creative juices flowing and doing activities to challenge your mental skills.
Related Post: 30 Powerful Self-Care Activities For Brain-Boosting Mental Stimulation
Practical self-care
This style of rest is a time for you to get some things done that you have left for too long. Getting some of those items done will make you feel more relaxed because you can finally stop thinking about it!
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Spiritual self-care
This involves taking time to heal your spirit. It might mean doing activities that make you feel truly alive or connecting with a higher power.
Related Posts: 19 Powerful Spiritual Self-Care Practices For Better Spiritual Health
I hope you found these 10 simple ways to rest and recover helpful!
I know that it can be hard to relax during a holiday at home.
However, it is important to take the time for these self-care activities so that you are ready mentally and physically to return to work later on.
Do you have any tips on how to rest and recover during holidays?
Wow, this is a great list! All of the tips sound so refreshing and relaxing, which are two things we definitely need more of in our busy lives. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for commenting 🙂