Our Slow Between-the-Holidays Rhythm (Why We Don’t Rush This Week)

The week between Christmas and New Year’s often feels forgotten. The celebrations have passed, the calendar is nearly empty, and the pressure of what comes next hasn’t fully arrived yet. It exists quietly—untethered from expectations, schedules, or milestones.

And it’s become one of my favorite weeks of the year.

In a season that so often feels busy and overstimulating, this in-between space invites something different. A softer pace. Fewer plans. More room to simply be. Over time, we’ve learned not to rush through this week or treat it as a placeholder before January begins. Instead, we let it unfold slowly—and it has become a rhythm our family looks forward to.

Why We Choose to Slow Down

After weeks of gatherings, gifting, travel, and heightened emotions, there’s a natural need to decompress. Children feel it. Parents feel it. Even our homes seem to ask for stillness.

Rather than filling this week with errands or “catching up,” we intentionally leave it open. Not empty—but unstructured. We don’t aim to be productive. We aim to be present.

Slowing down here creates a buffer between the fullness of the holidays and the freshness of the new year. It gives us space to land before moving forward again.

What Our Between-the-Holidays Days Actually Look Like

This week doesn’t follow a schedule—it follows a feeling. Mornings are unhurried. Bedtimes are flexible. Meals are simple and comforting.

There are long stretches at home. Familiar toys rediscovered. Pajamas worn well into the day. Coffee refilled while little hands play nearby.

Nothing extraordinary happens. And that’s exactly what makes it special.

The Comfort of Familiar Routines

While the pace is slower, we still lean into a few gentle anchors. Familiar routines provide comfort without rigidity.

Morning coffee. Simple breakfasts. A walk if the weather allows. Afternoon rest. Cozy evenings at home.

These small touchpoints bring stability while leaving room for spontaneity. They remind us that rhythm doesn’t require structure—it requires intention.

Why Kids Thrive During This Week

Children feel the shift immediately. Without a packed schedule, they settle into deeper play. Creativity returns. Emotions regulate naturally.

There’s less rushing from one activity to the next, fewer transitions, and more opportunities for connection. This week often brings some of the calmest moments of the entire season—not because we planned them, but because we allowed space for them.

Letting Go of “Shoulds”

There’s an unspoken pressure to use this week productively. To organize. To reset. To prepare.

We’ve learned to let go of that expectation.

There will be time for planning in January. There will be space for goals later. This week is about rest—not preparation.

Letting go of the “shoulds” creates room for presence. And presence is what carries us gently into the new year.

Simple Ways We Embrace the Slow

Slowing down doesn’t require a perfect setup. It’s about small choices made intentionally.

• Keeping meals simple and familiar

• Saying no to unnecessary commitments

• Allowing extra rest during the day

• Spending more time at home than usual

• Following energy rather than a clock

These choices don’t look impressive, but they feel grounding. They restore us in ways a full calendar never could.

Why This Week Matters More Than We Realize

This in-between space acts as a reset—not a dramatic one, but a quiet recalibration. It gives us time to reflect without pressure and rest without guilt.

By honoring this week, we enter the new year less depleted. More centered. More connected.

We don’t need to rush toward what’s next. There’s value in lingering where we are.

Carrying This Rhythm Forward

The goal isn’t to live slowly all the time—it’s to remember what slow feels like.

This week reminds us that life doesn’t need to be full to be meaningful. Sometimes the most restorative moments happen when we stop trying to optimize every day and allow ourselves to simply exist within it.

As the calendar turns, I hope we can carry this gentleness forward. Not as a resolution, but as a reminder.

A Quiet Invitation

If you find yourself in this in-between week feeling unmotivated, unproductive, or unsure—know that you’re exactly where you need to be.

This week doesn’t ask for more. It asks for less.

And sometimes, less is everything.