Are People Really Extra Busy During the Holidays?

[Ronstar]

I am exponentially busier. Been working 10-12 hours a day for the last month. Multiple home remodeling projects are now fighting for attention with the usual Christmas gifts that I make. I have a bathroom remodel, entertainment center cabinet doors and a cutting board left to finish in 6 days. And I'm sure something else will pop up. Christmas shopping is done, but I have a couple social functions, and doctor and dentist appointments left to hurdle also.

[GalaxyBoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon Megacorp liked to set arbitrary project deadlines near the end of the year.

I used to get multiple project deadlines that fell at the end of the year or a week or so after. Each project manager would say, “no one wants to work the week after Christmas so let’s move up the deadline to the week before so we get it done.” Since I was something of a specialist who worked on all the projects, I would have to work overtime just to meet the arbitrary dates.

[audreyh1]

Gosh I am. We fly to Dad's every Xmas and stay for at least 2 weeks. He's pretty old and has now moved to assisted living nearby. We have a big family get together including family flying in from Europe. I'm often "master of ceremonies" being the eldest. Plus I have lots to take care of for Dad while I'm there. So yes, I'm usually swamped starting a week before Xmas preparing for the trip.

[aja8888]

While not personally busy around Christmas, DW and I are driving to Santa Clara, CA to visit her family out there between 12/27 and 1/4 or so. It's our first trip away from home since DW got sick 13 months ago.

[Katsmeow]

Yes, I am busier than usual. I think for 2 reasons.

We don't give a lot of presents but I do have my mom visit me at Thanksgiving and Christmas so there is taking her home after Thankgiving then going and getting her for Christmas and having her as a house guest (she lives a couple of hundred miles away). Also, there are adult kids as well.

Stores are more crowded. Sometimes stuff is sold out that you want. Traffic near stores gets heavier and it is harder to park. All of that adds to the end of year stuff.

We don't go to a lot of Christmas functions so that isn't an issue. We do decorate at home so there is time involved in setting up the tree and decorating (we have a service do the outside lights). So that adds to time.

But, the big thing is not Christmas related. It is end of year related. There are a number of things that we have to decide if we want to do them before the end of the year. If we do, then do it. For other things, we know we want to do it before the end of the year and so need to do that. I tend to schedule medical and dental stuff at this time of year as well. So all of that takes time (I had a medical and dental appointment last week, same again this week and another medical the day after Christmas).

[USA]

I feel peace and calm. Gone is the “mystery “ of who gets the days off approved. Being retired I can drop normal activities to cherish the extra. Like having a tree decorated by little grandkids.

[marko]

I truly long for a Christmas season that I could enjoy and not see it as something I have to "just get through".

It's just become weeks of to-do checklists and unfortunately doing holiday stuff like going out to see lights or a walk in the woods is never on that list.

As I write this, I realize that I've got to make some changes. I'm actually going to see my Dr today as my blood pressure has risen lately.

[dasranger]

We love Christmas and bringing in the new year. I love watching small children open presents. Are we really extra busy? Of course we are. We get extra busy at times throughout the year and recover just fine.

[bclover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko I truly long for a Christmas season that I could enjoy and not see it as something I have to "just get through". It's just become weeks of to-do checklists and unfortunately doing holiday stuff like going out to see lights or a walk in the woods is never on that list. As I write this, I realize that I've got to make some changes. I'm actually going to see my Dr today as my blood pressure has risen lately.

Hey Marko,
Read your tag line. "living well is the best revenge". You have to stay healthy to live well.

bump up that walk to see Christmas lights on the checklist.

another thing I do with my holiday list, I ask myself what will happen if I don't do an "item". lol, if it ain't catastrophic I try not to stress about it.

[marko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclover Hey Marko, Read your tag line. "living well is the best revenge". You have to stay healthy to live well. bump up that walk to see Christmas lights on the checklist. another thing I do with my holiday list, I ask myself what will happen if I don't do an "item". lol, if it ain't catastrophic I try not to stress about it.

Thanks bclover! This thread actually has me rethinking things. Seriously.

I need to make some changes; perhaps stop 'making lists'. I'm a worrier by nature but coming to realize that as I get older I just need to let things go.

[exnavynuke]

I buy presents for my nephews and have Amazon gift wrap and deliver them for me. Takes about 10 minutes and I generally do that just after Thanksgiving.

I normally go have Chinese food for lunch with a friend (tradition we've been doing since our Navy days), but this year I'm going on vacation instead (diving off a liveaboard boat in the Bahamas).

I also have to get the decorations out of the attic at my parents house so they can decorate their house (and generally help put up a few of them). That takes me maybe a couple hours... and is done late November.

So I'm not really busy generally.

[Moemg]

Since my SO's son took over Christmas Eve I am not crazy busy and I like it . We are having a few friends for dinner Christmas Day .I did decorate but not nearly as much as I used to and I shop online for several people .I 'm enjoying this slower holiday pace after many frantic years.

[CaptTom]

It's been slow here, sort of in between big projects, and the weather turned a little earlier than expected. But as everyone said, with no little kids and no w*rk, no reason for stress.

Thinking back though, it was pretty bad. It's a tough time of year for working parents, especially single parents.

I'm glad "Elf on a Shelf" wasn't a thing back when my kids were little.

Having to come up with a new and imaginative setting for that stupid thing EVERY night, on top of all the other stressors, would have done me in!

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Throwdownmyaceinthehole No not busy at all due to the weather. In fact this is the first time that I've had nothing to do for weeks on end. I even made homemade marshmallows yesterday. That's pitiful. I've decided that next year I'll take a part time job Nov Dec.

Sounds like you could also sign up for a last minute cruise, or plan a trip overseas, as it's amazing how much time is involved in detailing out a trip overseas.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Around these parts, I would say YES!!! The traffic is exponentially worse and we see some of our neighbors come and go 5 or more times during the day. I have done my best to stay out of the madness, but I did swing by Target this AM and was taken back by HOW MANY people were there at 10 AM on a Monday. Retiree "drive time" is on hold until January 8th around here!

[gretah]

I'm not religious so I just order a few gifts online to be sent to close relatives who celebrate Xmas. So I basically just duck the holidays.

But I've discovered a Saturday night in late January is a great time to hostess a cocktail party.

In early Jan, everyone is sick of rich food and sweets. Plus they are on a diet.

By late Jan, people are tired of "lean and mean" eating and they are longing for social events again.

I enjoyably spend lots of time making hand crafted invitations and cooking for weeks for the event. I encourage guests to create and bring limericks around a theme, which is always great fun.

I love January.

[Scuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by exnavynuke I buy presents for my nephews and have Amazon gift wrap and deliver them for me. Takes about 10 minutes and I generally do that just after Thanksgiving. I normally go have Chinese food for lunch with a friend (tradition we've been doing since our Navy days), but this year I'm going on vacation instead (diving off a liveaboard boat in the Bahamas). I also have to get the decorations out of the attic at my parents house so they can decorate their house (and generally help put up a few of them). That takes me maybe a couple hours... and is done late November. So I'm not really busy generally.

Enjoy your dive trip! [emoji225][emoji227]

[jollystomper]

Any of my busyness is self imposed. It is my choice to determine how busy I want to be.

The people I get presents for, or send cards to, are people I want to, not need to, so it does not become a busy chore.

The level of decorations I choose to put up are by my choice, at my level of enjoyment, and not to impress the neighbors or visitors.

I enjoy filling out cards and wrapping gifts, and it is something I can multi-task with watching sports, so no lost time there.

DW and I choose our level of socialization, and at this stage in our lives it makes it more enjoyable than busy.

Sometimes folks drive themselves to insane levels of activity, as if to impress others or somehow make up for the rest of the year... we choose not to do so.

[Teacher Terry]

When my kids were at home I was super busy with baking, cooking, buying gifts, taking them to events, activities, etc. About 10 years ago we quit exchanging gifts with our friends and the older relatives have all died. WE do not have any grandchildren. Xmas eve I will take my son and DIL out to a nice restaurant. On Xmas day I will cook for my son, step-son and a Jewish friend. I quit sending cards about 10 years ago and my xmas decorations only take up one small box so pretty quick to put up. One of my sons is arriving on the 29th and he has already put in his orders for special meals for me to cook.

[Badger]

It's just my wife and I except this year some of the family will be over for a Christmas dinner of Gumbo and Spare Ribs. I'll put on some Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby Christmas music (what I listened to as a child and enjoy remembering Christmas Past and my parents) and relax. My wife and I decided that we don't need to exchange gifts. Instead we will go on a cruise in early Jan. since the departure is only a couple of hours south. We plan on staying on the ship, relax in the hot tubs and steam rooms and enjoying a few books while the other passengers are touring the ports and getting a sunburn to take back north.

No stress here.

Cheers!