
I want to enjoy my Week Of Nothing but I’m not particularly interested in taking on anything too impressive or productive.
8 things to do during the week between Christmas and New Years
1. Read wonderful, delicious fiction
2. Wear all your closet orphans (and get rid of stuff you don’t wear)
We’ve all got those cute tops we never wear or the skirts that don’t match anything. It’s amazing what happens when you force yourself to make it work. It’s fun to pull stuff from the depths of your closet and work them into a coffee shop or office-appropriate outfit.
You might like it! It might be ridiculous! And if it is, you don’t ever have to wear it again. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can even purge your closet (here’s how.)
3. Try some new recipes from that pile of magazines
You can tell I’m a Grown Ass Woman because I have an enormous pile of women’s magazines next to my bed. (That’s the mark of an adult, right? Accrual of mail?) Each month I read them and each month I plan to make that kale apple almond thing. And then I eat popcorn for dinner again.
I’m going to go through my lady magazines, rip out those ever-loving recipes, buy the ingredients and fill my kitchen with lovely, homey smells and my belly with something other than popcorn or quinoa burgers.
4. Schedule video call catch-ups with far-flung friends
5. Mix up some winter-friendly DIY beauty treatments
6. Finish a few projects that are hanging over your head
I am captain “It’s totally not a big deal, it really doesn’t bother me” – about the cracked windshield, the Venetian blind my cat ate, my constantly crooked lampshade. But when I finally get around to fixing those non-problems I FEEL LIKE THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD.
I’m going to spend a few hours taking care of those little, niggling problems during my down week. I imagine it will make me feel so powerful and capable I’ll take to breaking things just so I can fix them.
7. Engage in a few good karma projects
I’m trying to get a head start on Santa’s Nice List for next year and earn a few gold stars that I’ll inevitably cash in on New Year’s Eve. I think I’ll work my way through some of these good karma ideas and hope that my NYE’s shenanigans don’t require a penance bigger than that.
8. Do a No Grocery Challenge
If you hosted Christmas or Hanukkah, you’re probably drowning in leftovers and about-to-go-bad produce. Even if you didn’t host, I bet your parents sent you home with Coolwhip containers filled with extras.
Why not use this week to do a No Grocery Challenge? Pass up the grocery store and get creative with what you have on hand. You’ll be amazed by how much money you’ll save and how much time you don’t spend just ‘popping to the store’ for one ingredient.
P.S. How to Hygge (or ’29 ways to actually enjoy winter)
Sarah! This is wonderful! I, too, am taking ALL of those days off, and planning on doing all the things you write about. (Plus knitting, which is so relaxing.)Talk about kindred spirits! I hope you have a lovely holiday.
Yay! Hooray for down time and good on you for taking care of yourself!
Studs Terkel is my favorite of all time, ever. I am so glad you're getting the chance to read his work!
I can't wait to dig in! I think he'll help me up my interviewing game 😉
now i'm wishing i had taken more days off! i only took next week off, and will be spending the whole time bouncing around my hometown staying with family members. after that, i could use a day or seven of face masks and leslie knope. but i am definitely going to pick up some delicious fiction for my train rides and hanging out at my sister's house while she's at work!
Yes! And podcasts! I love 'My Brother, My Brother, And Me' and 'Oh No! Ross and Carrie'
i will have to check those out! thanks!
I'm not the only one with weird apple kale almond recipes lying around?! Thank goodness. I like to add more fun to my life. Even though I'm working the 9-5 job, and teaching the yoga classes, I will visit friends, hang out with people I usually don't, and be a little more tired than usual.
I just subscribed to blog love and love it. Everyone else (other blogs) are talking about spending time with family, making this elaborate meal, where this from this store and so on. It refreshing to hear another point of view. I enjoy the pleasantness of doing nothing that week before the end of the year. Unfortunately I have a hyperactive curious 5 yr old jumping me the whole time asking for food and wanting to be entertained. I will figure out something for him to do that he won't get bored with in 10 minutes and find me some ME Time. Thanks
Welcome, Sanni! Hope you enjoy your time off!
I love this list! Most of these things are completely do-able and within my comfort range, or perhaps just a little bit outside of it, but only a little. I'm really excited to do #1 and #4! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
I love working between Christmas and New Year because no one is in the office or on public transport. I do find half my time taken up with finding somewhere that is open so I can get coffee though!
I go through all of my books (three bookshelves worth WOOT) and decide what I want to read in 2015, plus weed out ones I am no longer interested in. I also re-arrange my living room which gives me a huge burst of energy every morning when I walk into it! Happy Holidays, Sarah VB!
Sarah,
These are all really good tips! I unfortunately don't have the entire time off work, but the time I do have I am going to try to actually un-plug for once (no work emails!) and spend time with family, read, and just be present and in the moment. Back at work, since things will be slow, I am going to try to clean and organize my desk, purge my closet of old clothes, create a budget for 2015…let's call it, life organization. 😉
~ Christina
http://mabellechristina.blogspot.com/
I really love your book recommendations – the Studs Terkel book looks great! And of course Anne of Green Gables is the best.
Great ideas! Your book recommendations are awesome. I've read the Studs Terkel book and I love it, too. Thank you for sharing this wonderful list.
Domestic cleaners Acton
Love this list! I always dread the time between Christmas and New Year, it's like no man's land. I'm working a couple of the days this year, but think work maybe pretty quiet so a great time to do some reading. The idea of wearing the closet orphans is also a great one.
I'm doing a challenge, trying to do as many new things in the year I'm 29, I can do a few things in that time as well 🙂
Joss
http://www.the29challenge.blogspot.co.uk/
I had intended to just chill over the week between Christmas and new year's , but I was hit with a sudden burst of energy. So I used it to write to some friends and take down all my Christmas decorations. Now I'm catching up on my blog reading and indulging in some excellent books. I've also been trying to cook some new recipes and spend quality time hugging my cats.
Ha. I just read this but found myself unknowingly doing all these things. Love your blog, btw. I also appreciate you turning me on to Benjamin Plante, who lives in a place dear to my heart. I so enjoy his post from NC and MN. Happy Holidays!
Isn’t he great?! His Instagram is one of my favorites <3
I’ve read the Studs Terkel book and I love it, too. Love your blog, btw. I also appreciate you turning me on to Benjamin Plante, who lives in a place dear to my heart. I used it to write to some friends and take down all my Christmas decorations. I enjoy the pleasantness of doing nothing that week before the end of the year.
Hi, I used it to write to some friends and take down all my Christmas decorations. Now I’m catching up on my blog reading and indulging in some excellent books.I also appreciate you turning me on to Benjamin Plante, who lives in a place dear to my heart. I used it to write to some friends and take down all my Christmas decorations. I am going to try to actually un-plug for once and spend time with family, read, and just be present and in the moment.
I’m catching up on my blog reading and indulging in some excellent books. I’ve also been trying to cook some new recipes and spend quality time hugging my cats. I also appreciate you turning me on to Benjamin Plante, who lives in a place dear to my heart. I used it to write to some friends and take down all my Christmas decorations. enjoy the pleasantness of doing nothing that week before the end of the year. I had intended to just chill over the week between Christmas and new year’s, but I was hit with a sudden burst of energy.