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Rochester Local

Appreciating The Average: Life After The Holidays

family eating breakfastThe end of the year can leave a lot of people feeling down. Holiday cheer slowly fades as we put away our colorful decorations and eat all the leftover sweets. After the new year, the temperatures are well below freezing, and we probably won’t see our families for a while. The holiday season is such a short part of our year. It comes and goes before we know it, yet we put so much time and effort into everything we do. As magical as it is, the season has its downsides too. This time of year can create a lot of stress. There’s shopping, cooking, and lots of cleaning for guests. It can be a bit overwhelming. We put so much pressure on ourselves to create the perfect holiday memories, and then it’s over. 

The holiday season is kind of like going on a vacation. There’s so much build-up, preparation, and planning involved. It’s SO exciting. But it can also be extremely stressful. Did I pack the sunscreen? Who’s watching the dogs? Where are the plane tickets!? Of course, the vacation itself is the best part. You get to relax away from work and enjoy time with family or friends. But, when it’s over, you go home, unpack, and get to sleep in your own bed. You feel that sense of safety and comfort that you can only get from being in your own home. It’s just like the feeling I get when the holidays are over and life goes back to normal. I love it.

I strongly dislike being busy, and having an average day is something I celebrate. It really stresses me out when I have a ton of plans lined up or a lot of events I have to go to. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m a Grinch, it just means I’m an introvert. I promise, I really do love the holidays! The music, food, and colorful lights are all so magical. Since I’ve become a parent, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the holidays. I see my son’s eyes light up over all the excitement and I get to give him that magical feeling we all love about the holidays. We bake cookies and make traditions that we’ll continue for years to come. But I’ve also learned to be realistic. Just like everything else, this season doesn’t last forever. When it ends, I love putting my holiday decorations away and getting my house back to normal. It gives me such a refreshing feeling and I can prepare for what the new year will bring.

Enjoy the holidays while they last but also try to appreciate the time when your life goes back to normal. Be mindful of how the changing seasons make you feel. If you’re feeling down about the holidays ending, try to put a positive spin on it. Be thankful that you made it through the busy time, hopefully in good health and with loved ones around you. Think of all the memories you made and how happy it made your children. Instead of being upset with yourself that you didn’t get something done, remind yourself of all the things you did accomplish and write down some ideas for next year. Your future self will thank you for that. Changing your mindset might help you get the motivation to start the new year off right.

I hope you all had a magical holiday and that you can find a reason for the new season. I challenge you to change your post-holiday mindset. Learn to embrace the normalcy, and appreciate the average in your days.

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