7 Keys to Avoid Holiday Burnout During Christmas Vacations

During the two-week end-of-year holiday season, there is first the freedom, the pre-Christmas excitement, and the disrupted schedules. Then come the aftermaths of six-course meals, glasses of Château Léoville Poyferré, late bedtimes, and sometimes athletic management of the children... All these can lead to returning from these holidays completely exhausted. However, there are some key strategies to minimize the wear and tear during the last days of the holiday. Here's an overview.

Stick to Regular Schedules

A few days before returning to normal life, the idea is to re-establish a regular rhythm of life and reasonable bedtimes for both adults and children. In short, it's about celebrating, but not too much. Put the kids to bed before 10 PM with a book for a gentle bedtime routine.

Why? To avoid needing a vacation to recover from your vacation and to prevent the youngest from following you around the house with a runny nose and teary eyes after refusing them a fifth Carambar at 2 PM.4

Don't Skip Meals

There's a tendency to replace the heavy Christmas and New Year's meals with just a mug of hot water, to give the body a break. The result? An internal biological clock turned upside down, with cravings and therefore sandwiches with Saint Marcellin cheese at 4 PM. It's wise to prefer light meals, like thick soups for dinner, but it's still important to maintain three meals a day. And don't shy away from gingerbread and hot chocolate for snacks. It's still the holidays, after all.

Why? Because if lunch is just a green tea, hypoglycemia and sweet cravings are guaranteed, leading to double portions at dinner.

Tire Out the Kids and Get Exercise

Kill two birds with one stone. On one hand, children who are only moderately tired telling their stories to the walls in the evening. On the other, enjoying the end-of-year meals but wanting to lighten up. So, find a nearby fitness trail, rent some bikes, or go for a long walk to get some fresh air. Stir their curiosity, discover slugs and boar tracks, jump, and climb.

Why? Because instead of sticking chewing gum on the (new) dining room wallpaper, the children will expend their energy collecting leaves for a herbarium. And that bike ride will make up for the glasses of Château Latour from the New Year's Eve dinner, or at least, it will feel like it.

Relax and Stretch

In the morning, take 30 minutes to jog peacefully. The cold will feel like it's purifying the body from previous excesses. Before sleeping, stretch at will, with simple exercises that will take about fifteen minutes. Nothing is better than stretching our numb muscles to facilitate sleep and a zen attitude. With the kids, start a session of musical chairs, charades, or dancing to get active and expend energy.

Why? To move and recover a good dose of well-being. To work on the kids' motor skills and avoid their temporary tantrums to the tune of René la Taupe.

Sort Through Toys

Since Santa Claus had the brilliant idea of bringing them another box of Lego Star Wars and a gun that shoots balls (which hurt), it's a good idea to do a real sort-out in the rooms so that everyone starts 2024 on new bases.

Why? To avoid stepping on a Playmobil when tucking them in at night. To keep them usefully occupied and to make other children happy by parting with the Dolphin that laughs like Flipper when dunked in bath water.

Opt for Fun Cocooning

The Christmas holidays are also for this. With feet warm in lion head slippers, watching "Home Alone" under a sheep's wool blanket. But don't get too lazy. Grant yourself cooking afternoons and culinary experiments for the whole family's pleasure. You can even involve the kids and make gingerbread with six hands.

Why? To reconnect with the pleasure of family meals. To keep the kids occupied so they don't end up fighting with Polly Pockets in their eyes.

Successfully Turn Down Invitation

It's often a marathon. The annual Christmas tea invitation at a great aunt's house, wishing grandmother a happy new year, a brunch with friends... But while the holidays are a chance to spend time with those we don't usually see, we can't be everywhere.

Why? For our own good, because resting also means learning to do nothing and refocusing on ourselves or our loved ones. To avoid reminding that uncle that we have no exams to take in the new year since we celebrated our 35th birthday a few months ago.