As the holiday season comes to an end, mixed emotions are common. It's sad that Christmas is over, but opportunities on the way in the New Year make me excited. Whether you're ready for the holiday madness to end or wish it could be repeated, we can all agree on a few things about the closure of the holiday season.
1. You have probably put on a few pounds by now.
Let's be real here. You have probably eaten an abundance of unhealthy foods since Thanksgiving and you were perfectly OK with it at the time. We all love that pumpkin pie, those sugar cookies you made and every last bite of that casserole. On top of all that yummy food came a whole lot of shopping which meant you just didn't have that extra time to hit the gym. We have all been there and can only hope that we make time to get rid of those extra pounds we put on because of the irresistible treats we get during the holidays.
2. You don't want to look at wrapping paper for a very long time.
The whole 'wrapping Christmas presents' thing can be extremely stressful, especially if you waited until the last minute to get in done. The idea of wrapping another present might make you cringe at this point in time and it is perfectly understandable. Just stick to gift bags for birthday presents and you won't have to wrap another one until next Christmas.
3. You are tired of all the traffic.
There is nothing like Christmas traffic. It all started on Black Friday and hasn't stopped since. Crazy drivers have been everywhere for over a month and the idea of it finally calming down would make anyone excited.
4. You are sick of the long lines in every store.
During the holiday season, there is nothing worse than waiting in line to check out in a hot store with people all around you. People take their time pulling those coupons out and making sure their total is correct, meaning the time you wait to check out just gets longer. It'll be nice for the craziness to calm down and to get to go shopping without waiting in line forever.
5. You will miss the time you got to spend with family.
It's sad, but for a lot of people the holidays are the only time they get to spend with their loved ones. Some travel far to see their families on these special days and it's rough when it all ends. Nothing beats family time and the holidays make it all possible. We all will miss that special time until the next visit with family comes around.
6. You are dreading going back to school/work.
The holiday season means more time off from reality and the thought of it all being over is kind of upsetting. It's always great to get a break from the stress and business to enjoy time with loved ones and holidays are the perfect time for that. No one wants to get back to their routine after a nice break.
Whether you hate the holidays or love them, we all have our thoughts on them coming to a close. We have a long winter ahead of us and can only look forward to what's to come. A new year means to adventure and opportunities. Warm weather is on it's way and that's what keeps me hopeful. I'll miss the joy that the holidays bring, but look forward to what's ahead.
Cherish the memories you made this holiday season and make sure to remember what's important as you jump in to the new year. Make 2016 a good one and keep moving forward.
