It is getting to be that time of year again where we had just gotten used to the pumpkin spice latte’s and then they tack on the peppermint mocha’s signaling change in seasons. The Thanksgiving feast has been consumed, the parade has been watched, and the cold is starting to set in for some of us.  This is the time of year where I find myself balancing a lot of different obligations and events, so where do you slip in the rest and relaxation?

Usually, every year I have decent amount of vacation to still use up and this year I received 5 more vacation days for being at the company for over a decade. I really enjoy the holiday season, so I tend to use a lot of it around this time because of family visiting, Events such as family recitals, Christmas concerts, work and family parties, and shoveling and snow blowing with the frequent snowfalls. So, staying busy is never a problem, what is though is what I choose to do with those late or early hours in the day.

Being a parent is wonderful, however most of you know that sometimes you sacrifice sleep or leisure time to get things done and try your best to keep it all running, Its in this period of being a parent and having vacation days that a gamer such as my self struggles to balance because I am use to getting up at 3:30 AM for work and going to bed sometimes at 11 PM at night to do the things that are necessary as well as the things we also enjoy. Now I have many days in a row off and Its like I have not had sugar in 11 months and have been given the largest chocolate bar in existence, and I need to find a way to eat it all immediately.

I tell myself I am going to go to bed early to catch up on my sleep or my internal clock kicks me awake and says hey you usually get up at this time, so start being active. I think to myself, hey go back to sleep, but 9 times out of 10 I don’t go to bed early or fall back asleep I grab a controller, my switch, hop on the laptop, or grab my phone and start playing a game. It is a reward for me for working those long hours all year. The best part is the backlog of games I get to choose from to have a new fun experience. Yes, a part of me is thinking of settling down for a long winters nap, but I would much rather replace visions of sugar plums with a good story, great gameplay, and a soundtrack that slays.

Do you have these moments in life where you choose between a good night’s rest or saying bah humbug to it all and grab a controller or mouse?  What do you have to balance in your adult lives that you sometime sacrifice for? Do you take a lot of vacation during the winter months? From myself to you all have a great Holiday season and enjoy life. Cheers!

Image Source: Smartsleep.com