How to Survive Chrimbo Limbo: Embracing Tranquillity in the Holiday Lull
Chrimbo Limbo is the term used to describe the period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when the kids are at home and many people take time off work. It’s the time when most of the festive celebrations of Christmas are over, but the excitement of New Year’s Eve hasn’t started. You might find that this time can feel a bit flat and like a sort of holiday lull. It’s difficult to know how to spend your time when you’re out of routine and many businesses and activities are shut for the holidays. When we are out of our normal routine, it’s easy to let the time slip by and not do anything, but this just leaves us feeling unsatisfied and that we have wasted the extra days that we have. If you are not working between Christmas and New Year, it’s important to make the most of this time as it provides an excellent opportunity to relax and spend quality time with family and friends. Take this time to reflect, recharge and prepare for the upcoming year by setting goals and planning what you want to achieve. Making the most of this time boosts your overall well-being and gives you a positive outlook for the year ahead.
Here’s how to make the most of this time:
- Rest and relax! This time provides the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind after the busyness of the holidays. Rejuvenate your mind and body and prepare yourself for the challenges of the upcoming year. Prioritise self-care and pampering. Practice mindfulness and meditation and make sure that you are getting enough sleep. Remember, it’s ok to take a break and focus on your well-being.
- Reflect! Reflect on the past year and reassess your goals for the New Year so that you are going forward with clarity and purpose. Grab a notebook, find somewhere quiet and write down your thoughts. Think about what you have achieved, what challenges you have faced and your personal growth. What have you learned, what you are grateful for, and which moments brought you happiness. Then think about the coming year and what you’d like to improve whether that’s cooking healthier meals, finding more time to exercise or making more time for yourself. Remember, these resolutions aren’t pass or fail – take a look at this blog for more info: Is it too late to re-evaluate your NY Resolutions? – W Fitness
- Spend time with loved ones! Spend quality time with family and friends. Organise family gatherings, plan fun activities, eat delicious food and create a festive atmosphere to bring everyone together. Building and strengthening these relationships is essential for emotional well-being, and it’s nice to have the time to do this without the pressures of work and other time restrictions. We have the whole family (yes, 10 of use!) heading to take Poppy to her first theatre experience!
- Enjoy your hobbies! This is the perfect time to indulge in your hobbies or interests that you might not otherwise have the time to do. Whether it’s reading, painting, cross stitch, baking, cooking, listening to podcasts or music, catching up on your favourite box sets or tv shows, or any other activity that you enjoy, take this opportunity to relax and immerse yourself in what makes you happy. This is also a good time to rediscover old hobbies or try out a new hobby that you’ve wanted to try but not had the time to do. Enjoying your hobbies is the perfect way to unwind and can bring a sense of fulfilment and joy.
- Reduce your stress levels! Relaxing and partaking in enjoyable activities, without the normal stresses, strains and time restraints of everyday life, can greatly reduce stress levels, which contributes to a better mental and physical well-being. Take time out for you, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga. Engage in physical exercise to release endorphins to boost your mood and reduce stress. Have a break from the constant flow of information on social media and electronic devices and reconnect with the physical world.
- Plan for the future! Set goals for all aspects of your life. Putting plans in place helps to keep you on track as well as creating a peaceful mind. Think about your health and wellness goals and create a sustainable fitness plan. We can help with this 😊 Think about your career and if you are satisfied with your job. Do you have a good work/life balance? Could it be better and what would you need to do to make it better? Think about any new skills that you want to learn and look at online courses or workshops that can help with this. Review your finances and look at your budget and savings plans. Plan travel, holidays and events to look forward to throughout the coming year. Strengthen relationships with family and friends and plan things that you can do together to nurture these relationships. Look at your time management habits and see if you can improve them to better balance work, personal life, hobbies and goals more effectively. Declutter and organise your living space as this plays an important role in mental well-being. Less clutter and a place for everything means less chance of not being able to find something, and less things to tidy away which also frees up more time 😊
In conclusion, embrace the ‘Chrimbo Limbo’ period and use the time efficiently to reflect on the past year, plan for the future, catch up with family and friends, rest, relax and take time for yourself to do the things that you want to do but never seem to have the time for. Chrimbo Limbo is a unique time to find tranquillity amidst the frenzied holiday period and by engaging in activities that bring you joy, relaxation and fulfilment, you can make the most of this time and start the new year with a refreshed and positive mindset 😊
Much Love
Caroline & Hannah xx