Let me state the obvious. The holiday season is a busy time.  Many of us have so much more on our plate (literally and figuratively) right now. When you think about it, all of it eventually leads to good stuff, but when you’re in the thick of it, it can be down right dreadful.

Take gifts for example.  Thinking of a loved one, and picking out something you know they’d truly appreciate, want or need is such a joy.  Standing in line at the post office with an impatient toddler to send that gift can make you pretty frustrated and kill all that delight you had in the first place.

I feel lucky though.  I feel lucky and thankful because in the midst of our holiday to-do list, we have found little ways to keep things merry and bright.  And merry and bright in our book means making time for adventure, mostly in the form of spending time outdoors.

Making Time for Adventure in the Busy Holiday Season

Create a shopping adventure

We love heading downtown and can get so much accomplished because all of our stops are in one central location.  Plus we’d rather shop Pike Place Market, and the surrounding local shops than deal with the mall.  Downtown areas of small towns, art and craft festivals, and neighborhood business districts are also super festive and places where you can find unique gifts.

What helped us recently was having a plan.  We had a specific list of stores to get to and gifts in mind for purchase.  I strapped Bergen (2 years old) to my back, and we were able to journey around easily.  Since we knew exactly what we were after, there wasn’t a lot of waiting around, which meant the little guy was content.

It also helps when there were 2 adults, so at one point Slaed was able to run into a store while Bergen and I took a break to play and enjoy the holiday scenery.

Have goals for getting your holiday tasks accomplished, but also make fun a priority.  

At the beginning of a big holiday task day (or the night before) we make a realistic list of all we want to accomplish.  Any thing from post office runs, picking out a tree, buying gifts, and grocery shopping is on that list, but FUN is also on the list, and it takes precedence.

Wake up early

Weekdays, I’m always up at the crack of dawn, but during this busy holiday season, I’ve also added weekends to my early waking habit.  We are truly blessed with a little one who sleeps in, so I’ve tried to take full advantage of that, and use that time to write Christmas cards, wrap presents, and generally get organized for the rest of the day.

By getting so much accomplished in the morning, our day is more open and less stressful.  And you guessed it, we can work in more time for fun.

Build-in adventure

I talk about this in our everyday life as well.  Whenever we have an errand or to-do list task, I think and scheme about an adventure close by that we can build in.  It can go the other way too.  If you have a fun holiday festivity you want to go to, think about how you can build-in a task on the way or in the area to accomplish from your to-do list.

Make adventure a reward

Accomplishing the daily to-do list is huge for us.  It’s a great feeling, and we find it reason to celebrate, so often we have a contingency that when all is checked off, we get to do something fun.  Last weekend, it was luminaries on Saturday and walking along the Seattle waterfront on Sunday.

How do you make time for adventure and fun during the busy holiday season? 

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More Holiday Fun and Adventure: 

• Christmas in the Southeast
• White Christmas in Truckee, CA
• Christmas Evening in Downtown Seattle
• Holiday Gift Guide for the Young Traveler and Adventurer (2015)
• Holiday Gift Guide for the Young Adventurer (2013)
• Holiday Gift Guide: Ideas for Under $30 (2012)