You Don’t Need to Feel Guilty for Having No Plans This Weekend

While everyone around you is immersing themselves in all things Christmas — fitting in ballet, swimming, gymnastics, parties, pantomimes and festive events — you might be feeling the quiet pull to… stop.

And that’s okay.

Enjoying the Hygge way of living is all about being gentle and kind to yourself and those around you. It’s also about knowing when to say no to the things that quietly drain your energy, even when they look joyful on the surface.

After a full-on week of starting festivities at school, organising Elf on the Shelf, Christmas discos, putting decorations up and trying to squeeze everything in, it’s possible to deeply love Christmas… and still desperately need some quiet.

You may notice you’re exhausted. That your patience feels thinner than usual. That you’re being short with the children — not because you don’t care, but because you’re expecting too much of them when they are already doing their very best to cope.

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

For young children, Christmas can feel like all familiarity suddenly disappears.

The predictability their brains rely on suddenly shifts:

• Normal books are replaced with Christmas stories
• Usual music is swapped for festive songs
• Familiar clothes give way to itchy jumpers and party outfits
• Routines dissolve
• And suddenly they are expected to sit still for pantomimes, Christingles and nativity performances

All while their bodies are buzzing with excitement, uncertainty and anticipation.

To them it can feel like:

“What is this Christmas… and why is it everywhere?”

And while many children feel excited, this level of stimulation can quickly tip into dysregulation:

• Difficulty sleeping
• More intense emotions
• Increased worry
• Heightened sensitivity
• And sometimes even a return of toileting accidents

This isn’t naughtiness.

It’s a nervous system in overload.

So How Can We Support Ourselves — and Our Children?

Here’s what I would do… and what we will most likely be doing tomorrow too, because we’re feeling it as a family right now.

🌿 A Gentle Start to the Day

We’ll wake up slowly.

Share books in bed.

No rushing.

No pressure to be anywhere.

Breakfast will be together.

A candle lit.

Warm porridge and fruit.

Time to notice the sunrise, the birds, the weather.

And we’ll gently remind ourselves:

“Today is a quiet home day. We’re not going anywhere fast.”

🌲 Mid-Morning: Outside Without Overstimulation

Fresh air without crowds.

A woodland walk.

Puddle jumping.

Garden play.

We’ll avoid busy spaces and loud play areas and let the body regulate through movement and nature.

We might even make some simple natural decorations — perhaps an orange garland to decorate a tree for the birds.

🍞 A Slow, Nourishing Lunch

Something homemade and warming.

Soup and fresh bread.

Or maybe a winter picnic outdoors by water.

Then books again.

Blankets.

Rest.

A nap if it happens — but no pressure.

🎨 Mid-Afternoon: Gentle Play

Baking together.

Playdough.

Water play in the sink.

Nothing elaborate.

Nothing scheduled.

Just slow, connected time.

🌙 Evening: Predictable and Calm

Dinner.

Gentle play.

The same familiar bedtime routine.

The same stories.

The same rhythm.

Because routine is grounding.

And right now, grounding matters more than magic.

Today’s Mantra

“Nothing special has to happen for today to be exactly what we need.”

If your weekend looks quiet…

If there are no plans…

If you’ve chosen rest over rushing…

You are not missing out.

You are protecting your nervous system.

You are protecting your children.

You are living the hygge way — with intention, kindness and enoughness.

And that is more than enough this December. 🤍

✨ If you’re longing to bring more calm, balance and intention into both your home life and your teaching practice, you’re warmly invited to explore my Hygge in the Early Years™ training.

It’s designed to support you in creating slower rhythms, emotionally safe environments, and deeply connected relationships with the children in your care — without the pressure of constant busyness.

🌿 Discover how to bring more hygge balance into your life and teaching at:

www.hyggeintheearlyyears.co.uk

Let this be your season of enough, not more.