The week between #Christmas and New Year’s is one of the best weeks of the year. For those who celebrate Christmas on the 24th or 25th, the hustle to prepare is done, and you’ve enjoyed the time with family and exchanging gifts. Oh, and the foodfest…can you say carb overload?

For many, #work is quiet, with a focus on wrapping up annual projects, cleaning out email inboxes, and setting up recurring meetings for 2026. A shout out to those who work in the shipping and delivering industry — you’ve not taken a breath since November. I hope this week brings you rest.

It’s too early to start 2026 health and wellness goals, which brings me back to the food. The refrigerator is full of #leftovers, a little bit of ham, some lasagna (our Christmas Eve meal), and a cream cheese appetizer we took to an after-Christmas party. Did I mention the Christmas cookies? They aren’t that big, so eating three with each lap of the kitchen is like eating one, right? Can I count that lap as exercise?

Let’s talk about the wonder of turning off the alarm clock…it’s the best. Sleep until you wake. It takes me a few days to relax enough to sleep later than 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. To completely relax and not worry about the fact that I HAVE to get up in seven or eight hours. I can get up when I get up. I’m not a napper, but our family joke is that I take my annual nap on Christmas Day. I was a little late on that this year, but I did, in fact, take a five-hour nap today. It was the kind of nap that made me wonder why I don’t do that more often. Oh, I know, because there are so many other things I like to do better.

Finally, I like to take this week to reflect, review the year we’re closing, and consider what’s next. In 2025, I earned my Master Gardener certification, completed a technology leadership course, and my second novel, Designs for Nora, was published. Big year. What will 2026 bring?

I have no idea what 2026 will hold. By January 11th, I’ll have a few goals written. There were many things in 2025 that I wasn’t expecting, both happy and sad. That’s something we know we can expect: the year will bring good days and bad days. Don’t let the nature of the days push and pull you through the year; have something you’re anchored to. Take this week, or even an hour sometime this week, to consider what you’ll do or learn in 2026.

We decide how our time is spent, or we wonder where it went.

All the best,

KK