A busy Holiday Season often includes changes in responsibilities, eating habits and sleep patterns – which can lead to challenges when it’s time to return to work, school and your normal family routine. Choosing the appropriate mindset and strategies can help as the winter break winds down and will help you prepare for similar occasions in the future.
With everything to consider during major holidays – festivities and events, tasks to be completed, people and places you’d like to visit – it’s important to be realistic about the number of plans that can be accommodated, and to communicate so that all family members feel prepared. For many people, it’s also useful to review the changes that come with returning to a familiar schedule. Setting aside some free time before resuming school and extracurricular activities gives everyone a chance to settle back into their space and routine.
A balance of consistency and flexibility is important. Using visual timers and schedules are helpful tools for managing expectations, especially if they give a general timeline for social activities and travel, as well as less structured blocks of time for recharging. Emotions can run high when schedules are less familiar or predictable, but the pressure of different tasks can be buffered by something to look forward to. For instance, a series of errands may feel more manageable, if children know that their long day will end with a games night at home, visiting cousins or good friends, or another special incentive. Gradually shifting wake and sleep times a couple of nights beforehand is another useful strategy for more comfortable transitions to and from holidays.
Be sure to contact our Military Family Navigator team if you would like additional support following the holidays, as you manage the unique stressors of the military lifestyle.
By: Leigh Wood, Military Family Navigator at the KMFRC