LIFE SKILLS
S u rv i v i n g t h e
s i l ly s e a s o n
Beyond the wine, sun and intentional sloth there lies a number
of pit-falls that can undercut even the best of holidays…
Be prepared.
I
t’s a time of endurance, where patience
and resilience separates the winners
from the losers, the chumps from the
champions, the Dane Cooks from the
Chris Rocks of this world.
This is not a description of boxing or playing
soccer at 2pm in Upington during December.
Rather, I refer to a time that carries the
misnomer of the festive season, and is more
appropriately called “the silly season”
because, well, it can often do more harm than
good. That’s just plain silly, no?
The irony of having a good holiday is that
some form of work goes into it, be it getting
the right car, finding the right accommodation
or giving yourself enough time to truly relax.
With that in mind, remember the following
as you move through the silly season and its
several invariable pitfalls.
IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14
74
Alcohol and diet
Rivers of alcohol and greasy midnight munch
time - Healthy people working hard to be in
top physical form often returning to work in
January heavier than before is not an unfamiliar
tale. You know the excuse: “I’ve worked hard
all-year, so I deserve some gluttony” - this is
arguably the rabbit hole people fall into when
on going on sabbatical.
Remember, your body can only consume so
much before it reacts which can be anything
from additional weight to a loss of energy.
Downtime is a very important part of leading
a happy life, but tools like alcohol and
‘unhealthy’ meals that help us ‘let go’ and relax
should be used in moderation. A small dose of
exercise is always a win, and in-between the
Christmas lunch/dinner and New Years parties
a glass of water between drinks goes a long
way.