How to Make the Week Between Christmas and New Years Great

As a blogger and influencer, November and December are VERY busy for me, so starting about five or six years ago, I made it a priority to take two weeks off for the holidays.

This is when my kids are out of school and my husband’s work schedule is also much lighter and I look forward to this break all year!

The last time I mentioned this, I got a lot of questions asking how to make the week between Christmas and New Year’s fun.

It’s been a strange week for many of us with everyone at home and not much planned after the rush leading up to Christmas in December. And for some, it can be a sad week because the joy of Christmas is over and there’s not much to look forward to after.

I asked my Instagram community for their best ideas on how to make the most of this week and they had some fantastic ideas!

Here are some suggestions!

Don’t feel guilty for not doing anything/having no hope
I’m not surprised to see that this is a top recommendation! If you have a week, allow yourself to do it There isn’t anything…this is the week! After weeks of holiday preparations, parties, and family visits, it’s okay to take a break. Don’t feel guilty about missing your to-do list – embrace it! I always think of it as time to rest so I can start working in January.

Spend extra time with family and friends
This is another one that is suggested time and time again – and I want to make sure I have time too! This is the perfect time to relax and enjoy quality moments with loved ones. Spend time chatting with family members you haven’t seen in a while, or reconnect with old friends who are in town. Whether it’s a cozy dinner, a winter walk, or just hanging out and playing board games, this extra time with family and friends will be unforgettable. Two years ago, some friends invited us and another family over for an afternoon snack and we sat around talking and laughing with our kids playing for so long that we ended up ordering takeout for dinner so we could all stay in. What a miracle!

Be spontaneous
This isn’t my normal trait, but this week felt like the perfect time to say “should we go out to dinner?” or “let’s text some friends and see who can come over for a game night” or “how about we watch a family movie at 10am?” The whole week felt like a YES week to me!

Preparing for the New Year
I set goals for each new year (you can see all my previous goals here) and the week between Christmas and New Year’s is a great time to think about the year ahead and reflect on the year gone by. I also like to start any goal by starting it a week before New Years (something my mom taught me). I usually only pick 1-2 things to start early on, so it won’t feel overwhelming come January 1st.

House cleaning, cleaning and repair
A fresh, tidy, and functional home can help you feel ready to welcome the new year. Tackle household messes and clean up after holiday messes. This might be a good time to clear out old items, clean out cupboards, or organize the kitchen. And if you’ve been putting off small home improvement projects, now is the perfect opportunity to tackle them.

Don’t forget the food
Food is another topic that comes up A LOT! You are my people! There are many suggestions, including taking time to create fun new recipes, having plenty of delicious snacks to eat, making snacks together as a family, and taking time this week to cook as a group so you don’t have to cook as much in the following weeks. I can live with all these ideas! We almost always have a fondue party on New Year’s Eve which is great fun for both adults and kids!

Get out of the house
After a season of throwing gingerbread parties and getting cozy indoors, it’s refreshing to leave the house and get active. You better believe I’ll be on the ski slopes all week! This is a great week to take advantage of the quieter time of year and visit places that may not be as busy as usual. Some followers mentioned going to the family cabin, going hiking, ice skating, or visiting a museum. You can’t beat a change of scenery or fresh air to feel more energized.

Let the kids take over
If you have children, this is a great time to let them take the lead. What do they envision this week looking like? Let them help plan meals and organize some games or activities. Maybe play around with Christmas presents, wear pajamas, and put on an impromptu talent show. Maybe they’re planning a family movie night, a craft project, or even a little outdoor adventure. Letting them take charge will empower them and also give you a chance to relax and enjoy their creativity and excitement.

Do things that truly make you happy
Whether it’s playing board games with the family, doing puzzles by the fire, painting watercolors, baking cookies, or watching whatever Christmas movies you’ve been missing, make sure you make time to do the things you enjoy. Actually want to do it! Life is too short not to do it.

Plan rest time
Since the kids are on holiday from school, it’s also a good idea to plan some rest time! One of her followers said she likes to book babysitters who are on school holidays so she can go on afternoon dates with her husband. And another mentioned “I take turns being alone with my husband so we each get some private time.”

Take a social media break
This week is always difficult for me because my job is on social media, but this is a week where I am much less connected to the internet and I love it.

Have a planning date
My husband and I set aside one morning or afternoon every year during this week to go outside for a few hours and spend some time planning for next year. We look at our finances, our travel plans, our personal and shared goals as well as our business and make sure we are on the same page for the coming year. It’s one of my favorite traditions! (I have a whole post about that here).

I’d love to hear how you make the week between Christmas and New Years feel special and fun!

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