{"id":15183,"date":"2024-12-09T08:42:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T14:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geekygirl.ca\/?p=15183"},"modified":"2024-12-09T08:42:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T14:42:53","slug":"a-rejuvenating-holiday-family-traditions-for-entrepreneurs-to-recharge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geekygirl.ca\/a-rejuvenating-holiday-family-traditions-for-entrepreneurs-to-recharge\/","title":{"rendered":"A Rejuvenating Holiday: Family Traditions for Entrepreneurs to Recharge"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hey there, friend. Let\u2019s be real\u2014December is here, and with it comes the chaos, cheer, and sheer exhaustion of the holiday season. Some of us absolutely thrive during this time, decking every hall, baking every cookie, and soaking in every moment of festive delight. And then there are people like me, who enjoy the idea of the holidays but find the reality… a bit much.<\/span><\/p>\n I want to share some personal reflections on the season, not because I have it all figured out (spoiler: I don\u2019t), but because maybe you\u2019ll see a bit of yourself in my story. The holidays can be complicated\u2014full of love, tradition, and that sneaky, creeping pressure to be everything to everyone. So, let\u2019s talk about family, traditions, and the gift of finding balance.<\/span><\/p>\n Growing up, my holiday experience was small and cozy. It was usually just me and my mom on Christmas Day, maybe a visit to my aunt\u2019s house. We didn\u2019t have big gatherings or complicated logistics. Fast forward to marrying into a family where Christmas means 35+ people crammed into a single house, and let me tell you\u2014it was a <\/span>lot.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The first few years were overwhelming. I wanted to fit in, to embrace their traditions, but I\u2019d never been around so many people at once. The noise, the food, the juggling of schedules\u2014it felt like running a marathon with no training. Over time, I\u2019ve learned to set boundaries. Now, we go, we participate, and when it\u2019s time to leave, we leave. My daughter, when she was younger, had a foolproof system: she\u2019d tap me on the leg, look me in the eye, and say, \u201cHome.\u201d That was our cue.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the thing\u2014honouring your limits doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t love your family. It means you love yourself enough to recognize what you can handle. Sometimes that means being the first ones out the door, and that\u2019s okay.<\/span><\/p>\n Traditions are funny things. They can be comforting, nostalgic, and deeply meaningful\u2014or they can feel like obligations that weigh you down. One year, our little family decided to skip the big gathering and go skiing instead. We ended up cooking turkey in a hotel room with a countertop oven because the whole town was closed for Christmas. It was chaotic and imperfect, but it was <\/span>ours<\/span><\/i>, and we had a blast.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve realized that traditions don\u2019t have to look the same every year. They can change, adapt, and grow with you. Some years, we\u2019re all in for the big family event; other years, we\u2019re low-key at home in pajamas. And that\u2019s the beauty of it\u2014traditions should serve you, not the other way around.<\/span><\/p>\n If there\u2019s a tradition that fills you with dread, give yourself permission to rethink it. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re a Grinch; it means you\u2019re human.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a lesson that took me far too long to learn: You don\u2019t have to say yes to everything. Not every cookie exchange, office party, or holiday gathering needs to make it onto your calendar. I used to feel so guilty turning down invitations, worried people would think I didn\u2019t care. But here\u2019s the truth: saying no to something is really saying yes to something else\u2014usually your sanity.<\/span><\/p>\n If I\u2019m honest, I still struggle with this. Sometimes I catch myself committing to things that I know will leave me drained. But I\u2019m getting better. These days, I ask myself a simple question: \u201cWill this add joy to my life, or will it drain me?\u201d If it\u2019s the latter, I politely decline. It\u2019s not always easy, but it\u2019s always worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n Holidays are hectic, but they\u2019re also an opportunity to recharge\u2014if you let them. A few years ago, my husband and I talked about how much I needed little breaks when our kids were small. Whether it was a solo trip to the coffee shop or a rare day alone in the house, those moments were my lifeline.<\/span><\/p>\n Now that my kids are grown, I\u2019ve tried to carry that lesson forward. I\u2019ve learned to carve out time for things that make me feel alive\u2014reading a book, taking a walk, or just sitting quietly with a cup of tea. It doesn\u2019t have to be big or elaborate. Sometimes it\u2019s the simplest things that bring the most peace.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure how you feel about the holidays\u2014what you love, what you dread\u2014this is your year to take notes. Pay attention to what lights you up and what drains you. Journal about it, talk it out, or just make a mental note. Over time, you\u2019ll start to see patterns, and that awareness is the first step toward creating a holiday season that actually works for you.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The holidays are messy, beautiful, and imperfect. They\u2019re full of joy and challenges, laughter and tears. But most importantly, they\u2019re yours to shape. Give yourself permission to step back, set boundaries, and embrace what truly matters to you.<\/span><\/p>\n And if all else fails, remember this: It\u2019s okay to say no. It\u2019s okay to leave early. It\u2019s okay to cook a turkey in a hotel room if that\u2019s what makes your holiday feel right. You don\u2019t owe anyone the \u201cperfect\u201d holiday\u2014whatever that even means. What you do owe is yourself some grace, some rest, and a little room to breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s to a season of finding your balance\u2014and maybe even a countertop turkey or two. \ud83c\udf84<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The holidays can be complicated \u2014 full of love, tradition, and that sneaky, creeping pressure to be everything to everyone. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":15184,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15183","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nFamily Dynamics: Chaos, Love, and Setting Limits<\/b><\/h1>\n
Traditions: Embracing the New and Letting Go of the Old<\/b><\/h1>\n
The Art of Saying No<\/b><\/h1>\n
Self-Care: Finding Moments of Joy<\/b><\/h1>\n