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Original poster

How do you spend the time between Christmas and New Year?

22 replies

themusingsofaninsomniac · 27/12/2023 09:22

I usually work the dead days inbetween to save my annual leave. But this year I'm exhausted so thought I'd take the full time off.

If you aren't working those sleepy days in between (I'm in an office not retail haha) how do you spend your days?

I struggle to relax and do nothing.. but then I do have ADHD. Interested to know what others have on, maybe I'll steal an idea or two!

OP posts:

wideawakeinthemiddleofthenightagain · 27/12/2023 09:32

One set of family leave in an hour, the other set in two hours. I intend to spend a mad hour or so with DH running around putting all of the furniture back in the right rooms before collapsing on the sofa and not speaking to anyone for DAYS (well, until tomorrrow evening when I am out with friends). Tween DS can game as much as he likes and teen DD can be on socially media. Any food will be what you can scavenge from the fridge and cake tins... although there will be lots of hints towards cheese as I bought far too much.

gocompare · 27/12/2023 16:06

Sort out my wardrobe and put bits on vinted.

Sorted out my Dd wardrobe and cosmetics.

Watch films, read, I've had a bottle of champagne everyday for the last three days.

Walk the dogs.

Sort out the kitchen cupboards.

I love being at home.

Normally I would do a bit of batch cooking with the leftover food and make a pie or something but we were not at home this year.

FrenchandSaunders · 27/12/2023 16:09

Doing very little. I've hosted a big xmas day/boxing day. Spent this morning alone on the sofa watching tv, it was bliss.

Went for a lie down on my bed with a podcast at 11.30 and woke up at 3.00 ... happy days 😁. I do like to get out for a walk but the weather is awful here.

FrenchandSaunders · 27/12/2023 16:10

Might have a little baileys coffee in a mo ...

EmptyYoghurtPot · 27/12/2023 16:10

On way home from family (stuck on M6 so thank heavens for Mumsnet!) and off to other family on Saturday so days in between will be spent washing clothes mainly. DS want to take his Christmas money to Primark so we might do that tomorrow. These are the few days in the year that we don’t have anything much planned. I love it.

gocompare · 27/12/2023 16:10

FrenchandSaunders · 27/12/2023 16:10

Might have a little baileys coffee in a mo ...

Ooohh I might too good shout

28bubble · 27/12/2023 16:18

For the past three years I've spent the time getting myself organised for the year ahead.
-I set up my Google calendar by putting in important dates, ensuring birthdays are recorded etc, I roughly plan out how I'm going to use my annual leave across the year to make the most of it and ensure I get regular breaks.

I set up a new household budget on excel for the year, set targets for savings

-I bulk buy items for the year, loo roll, shampoo, rice, tinned food, etc so that I'm not having to go to the shops every 5 minutes. It's a weight off my mind -Clear out bags, rethink my wardrobe, buy any replacement items that I really need

I write a sort of 'personal strategy' for the year (yeah I'm a weirdo), with a short list of my main priorities so that I can look at it and stay on track, eg. Get my flat redecorated.

-This year I've set up a bullet journal and have a new system for tracking habits like doing yoga every day, so I'm interested to know if that works /how long I can keep it going!

Generally my life has always felt very chaotic but I've used the period between Christmas and New year to try and get my shit together, and it's finally starting to work.

InAMess2023 · 27/12/2023 16:20

I usually end up logging on to the laptop even though I'm off... absolutely not this year! Set myself a target of deep cleaning two rooms a day between today and Saturday. Had a massage today and now a hot chocolate, cheese and truffle bake and churros plus Christmas University challenge... only thing letting the side down is the lack of alcohol but I'm trying to cut down anyway plus have ordered a bottle of LPR for NYE. Tomorrow is lunch with my best mate, a nail appointment and watching the match on TV... bliss!

Original poster

themusingsofaninsomniac · 27/12/2023 18:00

Interesting to hear how everyone's day went!

I ended up popping out for a scour around the charity shops to get rid of some loose change in my purse for some new books. I could have done an Amazon binge but it is a bit more fun that way. Even if it was drizzling all day!

I managed to get a 6km walk in which has made me feel like less of a lazy slob and justified the Christmas leftovers and chocolate I've continued to pig at today! Tomorrow I'm visiting a friend and then it's Friday already.. so I guess the time is going to move on faster than I thought.

Tempted by the baileys hot drink idea now too, and I've also made a bit of a goal planner for the next year so may start filling it out as well.

OP posts:

Lottapianos · 27/12/2023 18:06

Went back to the gym today and been eating normally and feeling so much better for it. We're off to France for a mini break tomorrow, will be back by NYE for a couple more days of chilling before back to work on 3rd

bananasstink · 27/12/2023 18:16

I was looking forward to these in between days but have spent them lying on the sofa feeling shit with Covid. I only tested as I was meant to be having Boxing Day with my elderly parents. I feel shit and am mostly sleeping!

PlumpAndGrump · 27/12/2023 18:16

The inbetween days here are spent however the kids wish basically. I have 3dc and they have been quite happy with their new toys and games so far that I haven't felt the need to venture out. They did all go out with dh this afternoon after he got up from sleeping after a night shift, I suspect he took them shopping for my birthday on Friday despite me saying I don't need anything.

anyway while they were away I gutted the upstairs of the house and caught up with my usual weekly cleaning routine. That included cleaning bedrooms, doing all the glass and mirrors, changing beds and deep cleaning the bathroom. Then a full house hoover including the stairs with the brush attachment. The difference after that is unreal.

Yesterday was a reorganise of my boys' room to make sure everything has a place to go so they can keep it tidy.

Tomorrow the tree will come down and downstairs will get the deep clean.

Inbetween all that I am playing board games with the kids, playing on the switch, colouring, baking, reading their new books, watching movies, playing with my toddlers car garage and puzzles, drinking coffee from my new machine and eating cheese /chocolate.

The weather is wet and windy here but if it calms tomorrow we may venture out on the bikes.

In the evenings when dh is working and the kids are asleep I make lists and catch up on tv dh doesnt like.

I love these in between weeks or any school holidays really. I love when my house is busy and loud during the day and quiet and peaceful at night. My main tip is just relax and do whatever you feel like as there's no pressure to be here there and everywhere. Your day sounds lovely I love a charity shop tour and books are always a winner. Enjoy xx

LlynTegid · 27/12/2023 18:18

I go into work, so I can have time off at a time where it will be better for me. I appreciate a break between New Year and Easter for something.

Simplelobsterhat · 27/12/2023 18:52

I'm always off and it usually flies by. We only tend to see one or other set of parents Christmas day, so usually arrange to see the other and our siblings in this time (although we are stretching that into second week if school holidays too this year). Often book a theatre trip, or this year going to a winter light event. Will get out for a walk or two. Other than that we all like to have quite a bit of downtime for reading, gaming, TV watching, eating leftovers etc. tomorrow we are hosting a friend we usually try and see in run up to Xmas but didn't get round to this year .

I'm always surprised when people want Christmas over with by 27th, decorations down etc. to me this whole week from Christmas to new year IS Christmas, it's the best bit! Trying to fit all the socialising, nice trips out etc into earlier December when kids in school and most adults both working and trying to get all the shopping etc done seems rushed.

Simplelobsterhat · 27/12/2023 18:53

Oh yes, and new board games usually a feature this week!

Iamblossom · 28/12/2023 21:10

I'm always a bit flat after Christmas, I think we'll go somewhere hot for a week from the 27th next year.

I'm "working" but it's quiet so have cleaned my house, removed Christmas,had a mooch around homesense with dh, drunk gin with a friend and watched tv .

I find it all quite boring tbh.

EdgarsTale · 28/12/2023 21:14

We’ve gone away for a few days in a hotel by the coast. Long beach walks, pubs & meals out. It’s been lovely so far.

HappyBusman · 28/12/2023 21:14

Seeing friends and family visiting from abroad, and usually heading off by myself to the coast for a couple of days, to walk and read.

CeriB82 · 28/12/2023 21:34

I work. Unable to take the week off. Many think local gov worker have a week off but it cannot be further from the truth!

ChristmasEvemaddness · 28/12/2023 21:35

@28bubble that sounds gloriously organised.

We've been lazing around and ventured out today. Ideally I'd like to get out everyday because it feels wondeful coming home to a cosy beautiful house and still doing nothing.

I've also been tackling organising jobs but only small ones like a broken draw, remember organising dh clothes draw.
I never bother with dcs shirts but I think I may try and have a go at whitening them!
I'll sort through dd clothes tomorrow and do a charity shop run then go out.

sanityisamyth · 28/12/2023 21:37

It's DS's birthday so we're usually at Center Parcs to celebrate it.

Perfectlystill · 28/12/2023 21:37

Crisscrossing the country seeing family. I love it but it's exhausting and I slightly envy people who stay at home watching telly. Although that would drive me mad after about half a day.

I think my dream would be staying at home for some of it and having a huge lunch party for friends. Doing some exercise and reading some books.

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