The so-called “holiday rush” starts way before Thanksgiving in our house, and most moms would agree: the marathon starts in September with back-to-school. Between the influx of teacher emails and to-dos, and the kick off to sports and after-school activities, our days and weekends are jam-packed… with no end in sight.
Before we can blink, there are fall festivals and Halloween prep to deal with, and the costumes and candy haven’t even been put away before the actual holiday decorations hit the store shelves. We have several birthdays in the fall as well in our family, adding to the celebratory chaos.
The holidays really take off in November and December, with cookie exchanges, friends/family/teacher gifts to be bought and wrapped, stockings to be stuffed, lights to be hung, and cards to be sent. It’s an absolute whirlwind, but we moms do it; we make the magic.
We ring in the New Year. Then my three sons, my husband, and I hunker down. We hibernate, and I absolutely love it.
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Why I hibernate in January
To “hibernate” means, by definition, to spend the winter in a dormant state, to remain inactive or indoors for an extended period of time. So while I wouldn’t call us inactive per se, we are indoors, cozy as can be for an extended period of time, just like a big grizzly bear in its cave. And it’s wonderful.
School and work, of course, continue, as do the necessities of daily life, grocery shopping, errands, and appointments, but for the most part, social gatherings and impromptu excursions and adventures decline. My elementary school-aged boys each do just one activity in these chilly months, and that’s their singular extracurricular focus. We don’t feel the pull to be uber social, to venture out to restaurants and friends’ houses as much; I let go of that pressure. We welcome an opportunity to rest and recharge.
How our January hibernation began
It started naturally, unconscious of our desire, of our inward leaning, but it has become a more intentional effort with every year. By knowing—and honestly, looking forward to—our “hibernation”, it allows me to maintain the active, nonstop energy and momentum of the holidays. I really strive to make the holidays a memorable, magical time for my family, and I’m able to enjoy the holidays more because I know it’s short-term, I know there is rest at the end of the tunnel. A break is coming for us all, a break we all need, physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
Hermit life can sometimes get a bad rap, but let me tell you, it has the possibility to be fantastic, and just what our family needs post-holidays.
“Hermit life can sometimes get a bad rap, but let me tell you, it has the possibility to be fantastic, and just what our family needs post-holidays.”
What we do during our January hibernation
We all know the jokes, the memes, the lamenting, the advice on “how to survive winter inside with your kids!”, and I’m not going to say it’s all butterflies and rainbows in our house. My three little boys fight constantly, irritate each other nonstop, and drive me nuts many days on end. But instead of running out to avoid the issues, I try to view our increased time together inside as an opportunity to learn and grow (on the good days, let’s be real), to bond in a new way. After the hectic holidays, we all need a reset, to find our routines and our manners once again, and hibernation allows for that. We focus on our essentials and everything our home has to offer as we stay in and snuggle.
Dive into a new book or book series
That new pile of books from Santa? Let’s dive in, and all start reading more. My middle son is a big fan of Harry Potter, and I think January will be the perfect time to read the fourth book together. My oldest needs some new series to fall in love with, so I’m lining up the options for those chilly evenings. And for myself, I have a full list of novels on my TBR that are calling my name.
Cook at home
After the nonstop holiday treats, January is our time to cook “normally” again. Bring on the soups, the casseroles, the crock pot recipes, and the slow Sunday simmers. Let’s get those veggies back into rotation, and for the adults, let’s amp up the water intake (and chill out on the booze).
Embrace family game nights
With nonstop playdates on a slow down, we instead play those games that have been gathering dust. From card games (like Uno and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza) to board games (the classic Monopoly is always a hit, and we also love Outfoxed and Sorry) to even chess, game night is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon indoors. We leave the boards out for a spontaneous challenge whenever the urge hits.
Start small home improvement projects
My husband and I take this opportunity to revisit house projects that were on pause during the holiday festivities. We’re eager to frame and hang up some new photos and artwork, to reorganize the playroom, and finally deal with the piles of LEGOs, all projects that were just too daunting in the fall, when our to-do list was too long to tackle.
Screentime is in there, too
I’ll happily admit that screen time increases during hibernation, and I’m okay with that. Screen time is a tricky puzzle, but I allow, and even welcome, more cozy couch snuggles come winter and actually find beauty in bonding over some fantastic shows and movies together. We all deserve to rest and zone out, even the kiddos.
Prioritize our favorite family outdoor activities
This isn’t to say we disappear; our priorities just shift. Skiing is an important winter social activity for our family, so we may pass on a party in favor of a ski afternoon. My boys hit the slopes, I hit the lodge, and then we all come home and hunker down together.
Final thoughts
The ultimate goal in this self-proclaimed hibernation is the opportunity to give ourselves a bit of a break, to rest, to care for our family, to sleep more, to try to stay healthy amid the flurry of germs. I find it revitalizing, and while my little boys may not fully realize it, I see them recharging and returning to their full selves as well in this time together at home.
The spring excitement will be here before we know it. But until then, I’ll be under my best blanket with my boys, reading about adventures elsewhere, playing some intense card games, watching magical movies, and loving every minute.
Liz Greene, Contributing Writer
Liz is a lifestyle writer living on the East Coast with her husband and three little boys. Her days are filled with endless messes, tons of cold coffee, Post-It notes transcribed with everything she’s worried she’ll forget, and lots and lots of baby wipes—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Liz was previously an editor at Style Me Pretty.
