Turning a Holiday Rhythm into a Way of Life
December is ending. The trees are shedding needles, the beach bags are packed away, and the last mince pies are eaten. For many, this is when the pace picks back up, and we return to the “normal” of inboxes, deadlines, homework runs, and the hum of busyness.
But what if “normal” didn’t have to mean frantic? What if the rest you’ve tasted this month wasn’t just a seasonal treat but the starting point of a whole new way of living? This is where we take the quiet rebellion of a restful holiday and make it a year-round lifestyle.
Rest as Countercultural
We live in a world that celebrates exhaustion as a badge of honor. “Busy” has become a socially acceptable response to “How are you?” and a measure of worth. But busyness is not a badge you have to keep wearing.
Rest is not laziness; it is resistance. When you stop glorifying busy, you reclaim your humanity and your peace.
Choosing rest means saying:
- I will not run my life at the speed of my inbox.
- I will not measure my worth by my output.
- I will not answer “busy” as my identity when asked how I am, because I am more than my schedule.
Try it: the next time someone asks how you are, resist the reflexive “Busy, but good.” Instead, respond with something that reflects your actual state:
- “I’m peaceful today.”
- “I’m slowing down.”
- “I’m grateful.”
Words shape reality. When you speak differently, you live differently.
Family Discipleship Includes Modeling Rest for the Next Generation
Our children are watching us. They see when we hurry through life, and they absorb the message that busyness equals importance. But they also notice when we pause, when we light candles at the table, when we sit under a tree and listen to the birds.
Teaching children to rest is discipleship, a way of passing down not just faith or values but rhythms that sustain them for life.
Practical ideas for family rest practices:
- Digital sunsets: turn off devices an hour before bed and fill that space with storybooks, music, or quiet conversation.
- Weekly rituals: a Friday evening braai, a Sunday pancake breakfast, a winter afternoon puzzle marathon. These rituals become anchors for their memories.
- Sabbath rest: whether practiced for faith reasons or simply as a mental reset, dedicate one day a week to slowing down. Go to church, take a nature walk, nap, play games, and avoid housework and shopping if possible. Make it a day of delight.
You are permitting them to live at a humane pace, and this is a countercultural gift they will carry into adulthood.
Aligning Rest with the Seasons (Slowstead Cycles)
Rest isn’t just for December; it belongs in every season.
- Winter Reflection (or metaphorical winters): quiet evenings, journaling, reviewing goals, pruning back what no longer serves.
- Spring Planting: energized mornings, fresh projects, starting new habits, while still allowing weekly pauses.
- Summer Flourishing: more social connection, outdoor living, late dinners, balanced with quiet afternoons or early morning solitude.
- Autumn Harvesting: gathering, hosting, celebrating, and slowing down to verbalize gratitude as the year draws to a close.
When you align your life with these natural rhythms, you stop fighting the seasons and start thriving in them.
Create Your “Rest Rule of Life”
A Rule of Life is simply a set of guiding principles that shape how you live. It’s like a trellis for a plant, a structure that supports growth in the right direction.
Your “Rest Rule of Life” could include three to five commitments that help you protect margin and renewal.
For example:
- No devices at the table. Dinner is for connection.
- One unplugged day per month. No social media, no online shopping, no scrolling.
- A weekly Sabbath rhythm. Worship, rest, and delight.
- Minding my words. Refusing to make “busy” my identity and choosing language of presence and gratitude.
- Seasonal check-ins. Every three months, review your calendar, commitments, and energy levels, and adjust where needed.
Write these down. Post them somewhere visible. These are your guardrails for the year ahead.
Sabbath Rest as a Faith Expression
For those who see life through the lens of faith, Sabbath isn’t just a good idea; it’s an invitation from God. “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) is not a burdensome rule but a gift of freedom.
Sabbath rest can look like:
- Worship and gratitude.
- Shared meals with friends or family.
- Afternoon naps without guilt.
- Time in nature, marvelling at creation.
- Play. Yes, play is holy.
When we weave Sabbath into our weeks, we declare trust in God’s provision and freedom to delight in His world.
Carrying Rest Forward: Hope for the Year Ahead
When you build rest into your life, you’re not just preventing burnout; you’re cultivating resilience, creativity, and joy. You’re building a home, a family, and a life that grows with you.
When you stop answering “busy” as your default state, you affirm that your life is not measured by how much you cram into it, but by how present, peaceful, and purposeful you are within it.
Imagine entering next December not exhausted, but grateful, because you spent the year living at a pace that allowed you to breathe.
Before the year picks up speed, take an hour this week to craft your own Rest Rule of Life. Write it out, share it with your family, and post it where you’ll see it often. Then practice a new response to “How are you?”—one that reflects rest, not rush.
Rest isn’t just a holiday luxury; it’s the soil in which a flourishing life is cultivated.