Day 303: This time of year can bring the worst out in us. There is a seemingly universal expectancy in the first world to ‘show pony’ your way through the festive period. We spend loads of money, we obsess about gifting and our children obsess about receiving said gifts. We over-eat, we drink a lot of alcohol and we spend money we don’t have. We post on social media how amazing our families are, photos of present piles and even more photos of Christmas food spreads.
Of course I’m generalising but the above is very common and if you aren’t described above I bet there are people in your family or friendship groups who are like that .
I’ve been guilty of it too. I used to use December as an excuse to drink more and definitely eat more. I’ve always gone for a run on Boxing Day and would share this on social media as some kind of justification for over-indulging. “Look at me out running on Boxing Day morning. I haven’t got a problem with over-indulging cos I’m running it off”
Somehow I don’t think a couple of miles on one morning of the festivities makes up for the umpteen bottles of wine and several animals I’ve consumed over the holidays.
This year I’m determined to step back and try to appreciate the Christmas break for what it should be about. Rest, self-care, time with family and reflecting on the things that are good in my life. I don’t drink anymore. I’m really into my running at the moment so I want to maintain this throughout (and it will be far easier to achieve this without hangovers). Me, my wife and little girls are having Christmas on our own this year which is a first for us. It will be nice to just spend time as a four. Granted I can’t sit here and say I don’t overspend on my family but I’m certainly not going to spend to the point that I’m wincing at credit cards in January. Again, not drinking keeps the spending down.
I’m also going to have a social media free day on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. It’ll be the longest I’ve not used Twitter, Instagram, Linked In and my Blog for but I need the down time. I spend far too much time on my phone and it’s the perfect time of the year to have a break. I’ll be back online on Boxing Day though because there is too much sport to enjoy to not be engaging on Twitter about it.
I can’t and won’t tell anybody how to live their life but my advice to everybody at this time of year is to remember to take time out for yourself and step back from the festive frolicking. Whether you choose to or not is up to you!
Happy Daddy 