I hate the holidays or any three day / long weekend. Usually by the third day I am anxious and no one is around as people are invited to a gathering. My friends don't give gatherings.
Gail, I'm like you in the sense that on 3-Day weekends I'm usually spending some or all of Day 3 working on something. I rationalize it by thinking well, I got two days in not working.
Because I celebrate the holidays in only the most secular way, I was often totally happy being the on-call person during Christmastime. I don't feel an attachment to it compared to so many other people. As I've gotten older (and more introverted, if I'm being honest) I appreciate long weekends and the holidays as a time to really enjoy being a hermit and homebody...I read so much this past weekend after I canceled all my plans. It was awesome.
Dec 18, 2023Liked by Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins
this piece resonates! I have a blended family and my daughter and son-in-law do also, so logistics, expectations and feelings are all challenging. I’m letting go of things like ensuring the house is spic and span from
top to bottom / I just don’t care if anyone else cares about dustballs and crumbs. I am also trying to get outside - moving my body as much as I resist it is a wonderful anecdote to the stress of the holidays. i’m also not drinking booze - originally for health, but now to ensure that my filters stay in place and my triggers are better managed. and finally - finding time for myself and getting lost in the things I do love about the holiday - johnny mathis and a lit up tree in the early am being among those things. Peace.
As I've gotten older I've learned to care more about doing things that are restful and celebratory for me. of course, I don't have kids, so I've never had to deal with the expectations that come with that. So, maybe it's "easy for me to say."
I have never been great about setting out of office messages, but I've known people who are really good at setting boundaries in the way they manage their tech, from OOO messages, to removing certain apps off their phone for the duration. Jory, i don't know if you remember when Lisa had an OOO message that said all messages sent during the week would go straight to trash!! I've never been that brave. I have said something like, I expect to return to an overwhelming inbox, so if this is really important, please email me back after xx date.
But as Jory said somewhere below...it's more about setting boundaries with *myself.* I really have to consciously make an effort to not just check in all the time. (And truth be told, I'm not even sure I buy why I need to not check in."
Dec 20, 2023Liked by Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins
I have to remove my work email accounts from my phone to truly take a break when I need. Also, I find that spending time in nature with the family helps.
I hate the holidays or any three day / long weekend. Usually by the third day I am anxious and no one is around as people are invited to a gathering. My friends don't give gatherings.
Gail, I'm like you in the sense that on 3-Day weekends I'm usually spending some or all of Day 3 working on something. I rationalize it by thinking well, I got two days in not working.
When I worked for others I always volunteered to work the holidays.
Because I celebrate the holidays in only the most secular way, I was often totally happy being the on-call person during Christmastime. I don't feel an attachment to it compared to so many other people. As I've gotten older (and more introverted, if I'm being honest) I appreciate long weekends and the holidays as a time to really enjoy being a hermit and homebody...I read so much this past weekend after I canceled all my plans. It was awesome.
I'm getting more hermitized also but don't like knowing no one is around during the holidays...it's a mental thing
I get it.
this piece resonates! I have a blended family and my daughter and son-in-law do also, so logistics, expectations and feelings are all challenging. I’m letting go of things like ensuring the house is spic and span from
top to bottom / I just don’t care if anyone else cares about dustballs and crumbs. I am also trying to get outside - moving my body as much as I resist it is a wonderful anecdote to the stress of the holidays. i’m also not drinking booze - originally for health, but now to ensure that my filters stay in place and my triggers are better managed. and finally - finding time for myself and getting lost in the things I do love about the holiday - johnny mathis and a lit up tree in the early am being among those things. Peace.
Say what you will, but Johnny Mathis just invokes a warm fuzzy feeling. And Mariah...
As I've gotten older I've learned to care more about doing things that are restful and celebratory for me. of course, I don't have kids, so I've never had to deal with the expectations that come with that. So, maybe it's "easy for me to say."
More less; less more.
That is nicely and succinctly put, Stowe :)
I have never been great about setting out of office messages, but I've known people who are really good at setting boundaries in the way they manage their tech, from OOO messages, to removing certain apps off their phone for the duration. Jory, i don't know if you remember when Lisa had an OOO message that said all messages sent during the week would go straight to trash!! I've never been that brave. I have said something like, I expect to return to an overwhelming inbox, so if this is really important, please email me back after xx date.
But as Jory said somewhere below...it's more about setting boundaries with *myself.* I really have to consciously make an effort to not just check in all the time. (And truth be told, I'm not even sure I buy why I need to not check in."
I have to remove my work email accounts from my phone to truly take a break when I need. Also, I find that spending time in nature with the family helps.
My go-to for unplugging--a hike with my family.
I have never been so brave as to just remove work email from my phone. Props to you!