Did I really just say “grow” a few days before Halloween?? If you are anything like me, you can’t stand much more “growing” during the upcoming holiday season!
But I’m not talking about physical growing (thankful for that??). I’m talking about growing your business, your blog or your family. It’s tempting to just put things aside until the New Year, and it’s certainly important to spend time with family and friends during this special time of the year.
But there are also some easy things you can do to grow during the holidays.
1. PLAN
Y’all know making plans are my passion! If you have tons of ideas for next year and haven’t quite sorted them into a plan, try the Idea Tornado Toolkit. The Mind Map and the Planning Six Pack are easy tools to help you pull those random ideas into a plan.
2. LEARN
School will be out for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean the learning should stop! Check your local museum or library for special programs for the kids.
And while they are occupied, you can take an online course to grow your blog or ministry. I love the courses on creating printables and email list building from Laura at I Heart Planners. Lena Gott’s Traffic Transformations is one of my favorites, plus she has some great free resources there as well! I don’t know how to choose one. I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments if you’ve taken some great online courses for blogging, business or ministry.
3. COLLABORATE
The holidays are the perfect time to team up with others. You can build relationships while you bless others … WIN-WIN! Partner with some families in your neighborhood to bring Christmas to a needy family. Get together with other businesses in your area to offer a special night of celebration and carolling. Or round up your blogging buddies and offer an amazing giveaway.
4. REST
Yes, rest. Close the laptop. Put your feet up. Park your mind in your happy place. I’m learning the value of having some margin in my life to refuel and recharge. It’s hard for me. I have to force myself to step away. But when I do, I find that I’m more creative and productive when I get back to work.
God wired us to need rest, a Sabbath, to function properly and to focus on the many ways He has provided for us. So take a rest during this Christmas season to provide some space for growth.
RESOURCES
Visit my Resources page for even more free resources and recommendations!
RESPOND
What are you going to do to grow through the holidays? Collaborate, Plan, Learn, Rest … share your best idea!
I’m linking up with Crystal Storms at #IntentionalTuesday, Jaime Weible at #SittingAmongFriends, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeartand Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Susan Mead at #DanceWithJesus, Missional Women at #FaithFilledFriday, and Susannah Kellogg at #FaithandFellowship, with Kelly Balarie at #RaraLinkup, with Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart, with Crystal Storms at #HeartEncouragement, with Susan B. Mead at #DanceWithJesus, with Arabah Joy at Grace & Truth
32 thoughts on “4 Ways to Grow During the Holidays”
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I will grow in planning, learning, and collaborating. Rest comes to easy for me sometimes, but the other areas need a push.
I’m the opposite! I need the push to rest! We should get together! ha ha!
I can’t think of one single favorite Christmas memory but lots of traditions from my childhood Christmas’ at home 🙂 Like all my Mum’s sister’s family coming to our house and after the meal we would all go out for a walk, with all the dogs, normally in the snow!
One of my favorite memories from Christmas is the day my son was born! Just in the knick of time to be here on that day too! I cooked my first Turkey dinner that day, but didn’t get to enjoy a bite. All day in labor and I was determined to finish making the meal. 🙂
I love cuddling with my husband in our living room with our Christmas tree all lit up while we sip hot chocolate. 🙂
My favorite Christmas memory is the year I got my small little piano. I remember it like it was yesterday. My dad wanted me to play so much. I did end up getting a big piano and taking lessons later.
My favorite Christams tradition is going to Christmas light seeing after the local Christmas parade, it’s a tradition I’m keeping with my kids. A new one we are starting is an advent kit that u purchased from a lady at church, it goes along with balloons they pop one day and each day has a new activity and reading to go along with it. It starts tomorrow and they can’t wait. I also can’t wait to share in the excitement!!! Thanks for offering the opportunity for the giveaway!!
My favorite Christmas memory is when my parents “caught” Santa leaving presents and woke us up to meet him.
It’s hard to stay productive during this time for sure – thanks for the tips! It’s easier for me this year because it’s my first year out of school, so at least I don’t have a big holiday break to kill my productivity 🙂
Oh but you will miss that big holiday break. Don’t forget to do some resting! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Great post! Love resting in the completed work of Christ on the cross…many blessings to you ❤️
Great tips Christa!
Thanks for being a part of the Christmas Blessing Giveaway!
Planning … check! Rest is my 2016 word of the year. I can tell you it’s going to be a challenging word. Thankfully, I believe God’s intention for my rest is more an attitude of trusting vs. striving rather than just inactivity. : )
Thank you, Christa, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday. : )
You provided a lot of great resources here. Thank you. 🙂 I like the idea of growing through the holidays. I’m thinking I’m going to grow by being more intentional about what I do with my blog. And I want to make some great memories with my family. Those are my goals. 🙂 Thanks for getting me thinking about this!
My favorite Christmas memory? I think it might be the Christmas mornings we spent when I was a girl, Bing Crosby playing on the record player and my grandparents joining us as we ate breakfast and opened presents. 🙂
I will be making specific time for rest. This seems to be a theme for me over the last year. I’m slowly learning how important it truly is. Taking time to rest is difficult, but oh so necessary! Thank you for the timely reminder. Visiting from Holley’s #Coffeeforyourheart
Rest is a huge theme for me as well. I’m really trying to work at it. Not being all that successful, but trying! Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Christa! Thanks for sharing these awesome resources. That blogging organizer looks fantastic!
I’ve definitely enjoyed using it. And several sections I’m not ready for yet, but are sparking ideas to think ahead. Thanks for stopping by!
As a child growing up, my Mom would bake cookies and we would take them down to the local fire station as a gesture of thank-you. The firefighters were the ones who helped save me when I was hit by a van with a driver who ran a red light. I cherish this memory always. Each year there were new firefighters at the station with some returning older ones but they loved hearing my story and that we were thankful for them.
What a beautiful way to give back! Thanks for sharing 🙂
My favorite Christmas memory is of when I was a teenager my uncle was staying with us. Now I have trouble with my back and sometimes I would sleep on the floor. Well there I was sleeping on the floor of my room in front of my door and my uncle comes by with a bicycle he and my dad had put together he reach over to close my door and it bumped into me. I thought he had had a heart attack how he hit the floor. Lol! I just scared him. It was probably 3am and it was dark in my room he didn’t know what to think. That next morning he kept calling me a spook. I loved times my family got to spend with us Christmas day.
My favorite Christmas memory is actually the year we surprised our kids with a puppy for Christmas. It was so fun to watch their faces.
I like the tools you shared to help you plan and utilize your blog planning time better. I think I am needing that.
Blessings,
Dawn
Good advice. Thanx.
God bless.
I need to get healthy and by the first step is to stop smoking and to eat right.
Thank you for these great tips and for the giveaway. I love spending time with my family and I love giving gifts. Thank you for being a friend at Sitting Among Friends. Hope to see you post up again next Wednesday.
Love these! My favorite Christmas memories involve going to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve. Love those traditions.
I love this challenge to keep growing our ministry/business during the holidays! My plan is to post shorter blog posts to free me up to work on my book. Also work on a new subscriber freebie.
You offer such great, practical tips (as always)! I think my favorite is REST! 🙂
I like the rest part the best. That is the hardest time of year to accomplish rest!
Such a good reminder to grow even when things are crazy…and PLAN! I’m just figuring out how to do this with my new, baby, blog.
Thank you for your encouragement.
Yes, I’m trusting for peace and rest in the midst of all the busy.
Thanks for pushing me to make a plan for it as well.