Pace yourself for the festive home run
Don’t overcommit, don’t stress, and above all, look after yourself, advises Teuila Fuatai
Congratulations! We’vemade it to thehomestretch. Schools are out and Christmasday is justnine days away. Theend-of-year cheerleaders are at their loudest, using their relentlesspositivity to provokecommentslike: “Yes, Iknow the date too. It’s also just a Wednesday, so can youplease focus ongetting that done so I can geton withmywork too.” Without sounding too grinch-like, here’s a fewpointers to power through the rest of the advent calendar.
Besuper-selective about commitments
At the end of November, one ofmy mates signedup to a 100km Christmas challenge. Tocomplete it, you have to walk and/or run100km between December 1 and25. Overall, it averages out to an achievable sounding4kma day. Totally doable, right? Wrong. This festive season, I’ve broughtmyexpectations and ambitions closer to reality. I’vemade peace with the inevitable last minute shopping scramble, and the fact that mygymmembership hasbecome moreof a donation this month. I’ve onlymadeit to two Christmas functions, with most catchups delegated to a less frantic January. Back in November, whenmyfriend waslooking for fellow participants for the challenge, I also suppressed the urge to commit. Instead, it wasa steady stream of enthusiastic nods and blandcomments like: “Wow, that sounds great”. It’smadefor amuch smoother December, and meant I’m receiving rather than sending messages asking people if they’reup for a 100kmstroll of the city on Christmas Eve.
Addtwoextra hours onto everythingyoudo
Mytimekeeping skills are haphazard at the best of times. In December, this takes on an extra layer, withsome messages beginning with: “I’m sorry, I’m running a few days behind at the moment”. Rather than cram everything in, I’ve decided to add two hours on to any event that is 1) At someone’s house 2) Allocated a two-hour time period in the afternoon 3) Involves anyonewhoprobably should be on annual leave but has to finish their “work year” anyway.
Classic red flags are afternoon barbecues from 4pmto6pm, a quick after-work drink, and a quick debrief meeting.
Basically, anything that features theword“quick” should be flagged as likely to take ages.
Spare a thought for retail andhospitality workers
It’s been a fewyears since I’ve been on the shop and/cafe floor, but Christmaswas always the worst. Fromnovember, you’re subjected to a stream of Michael Buble “classics” and renditions of Christmas songs that should never havemadeit to the recording studio. Somecustomers also think you’re better placed to find a gift for their loved one than them. Clues like “I don’t want to spend morethan $50” and “she likes a lot of colour” inevitably resulted inme pointing to anything I could see thatwas colourful and in that price range. Note: This is not a good wayto find gifts. Another phenomenonwaswatching fully grown adults behave like children. Onechristmas Eve shift at a cafe, a womanstomped her feet atme because we’d run out of sandwiches. Takeaway thought: write a list before going to the shops and have an option Bif you’re planning to eat out.
Feelingrundown? It’s probably nothay fever
This year, we’ve been bombarded with messages about stayinghomeif you’re unwell. At certain points, I’ve taken that to the extreme, giving evils to anyonewhocoughs aroundmein a public space.
Afewweeks ago, itwasmyturn to face the inevitable after overdoing things. For three days Iwas in denial about catching a cold, puttingmy runny nose and progressive miserablenessdownto hay fever and the change in weather. Bysaturday that week, Iwasknocked out in bed and barely had a voice. Agenerous selection of cold medications and antibiotics meant I wasback onmy feet after a fewdays.
Christmas is hectic, so if you’re feeling off and are able to, take aday out. Andfor those concerned, Idid get acovid test and it cameback negative.
Xmasis not the time to launch your artsandcrafts gift-making career
Finally, unless you’re under 10, or have a genuine hobby in making items from scratch, do not do this. You’ll be doing a gigantic favour for those of uswhohave zero acting skills and are genuinely confoundedwhen unwrappinghomemadegifts of junk.