How to Spend the Week Between Christmas and New Year’s

If you’re wondering how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s, start with a few things you didn’t get to enjoy during the holiday rush. Meet a friend for coffee, watch that Christmas movie, or spend an afternoon with a gift you’re excited to use.

I love making small moments feel special, and this week has plenty of opportunities for that. These ideas fit around time off, visiting family, or working from home, with a little room for getting organized before January.

Planning the Days After Christmas

The days from December 26 through December 31 can fill up quickly with family visits, travel, returns, and plans for New Year’s Eve. Before adding anything else, look at what is already on your calendar and how much free time you have. That makes it easier to choose how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Choose activities you’ll enjoy without spending the week trying to catch up.

If you’re sharing the week with a partner or family, ask what everyone would like to do. Someone might be looking forward to seeing a light display, while someone else wants an afternoon at home with a new game. Knowing that ahead of time helps you make room for both.

Ideas for How to Spend the Week Between Christmas and New Year’s

A coffee date, an afternoon outside, or a movie at home can give you something to look forward to after Christmas Day. Mix in a few practical tasks if they’re helpful, especially anything that will make returning to your regular routine easier. Start with the ideas you want to make time for and leave the rest for another day.

Enjoy a Slower Morning

An open morning is a good excuse to make a breakfast you usually save for weekends, turn on the tree lights, and sit down with your coffee. Read a few chapters of a book or catch up with whoever is home before everyone heads off to do their own thing.

If you have guests staying with you, set out an easy breakfast so everyone can eat when they’re ready. Bagels, fruit, and coffee can keep the morning relaxed without leaving one person in the kitchen cooking separate meals. Save a slower start for a day off if your work schedule stays the same.

Clear Away the Gift Wrap and Boxes

Start with the Christmas clutter that is taking up space you use every day. Break down shipping boxes, collect reusable gift bags, and put scissors, tape, and leftover wrapping paper back together. Finding homes for new gifts can make your living room feel more comfortable while the decorations are still up.

For gifts that need to be exchanged, keep the item and its receipt or order details together. Check the retailer’s return deadline and make a note of anything that needs attention soon. Having everything ready makes it easier to handle returns during an errand you already have planned.

Catch Up with Friends and Family

Christmas Day can be busy enough that you barely get beyond a quick hello with some people. Use an available afternoon or evening to meet a friend for coffee, call a relative, or have someone over for a casual visit. A coffee date or quick lunch can be easier to fit in than another big gathering.

Keep the plans comfortable for the people involved. Meeting at a coffee shop saves either person from having to host, while a video call works for family who live far away. If everyone is still traveling or working, make a plan for January while you’re thinking about it.

Fit in Another Holiday Activity

Your holiday bucket list can be a helpful starting point when you’re deciding how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s. You may have time for a drive to see neighborhood lights, an evening of holiday baking, or a visit to a seasonal attraction that stays open after Christmas.

At home, pick an activity you can enjoy with supplies you already have. Decorate the remaining cookies, make hot chocolate, or let everyone choose a Christmas song while you work on a puzzle. A favorite activity is easy to repeat, especially when December’s earlier plans felt rushed.

Plan a Christmas Movie or Game Night

Choose a movie you missed during the holiday rush, make an easy dinner, and get comfortable for the evening. Let everyone know the plan earlier in the day so there is time to finish errands or decide what to eat. Leftovers or takeout work well when nobody feels like cooking another big meal.

If your household prefers games, open one you received or bring out a familiar favorite. A quick card game works for a casual evening, while a longer board game gives everyone something to settle into after dinner. Set out snacks and enjoy having time to play together.

Get Outside for a Change of Scenery

After several days of meals, visits, and time indoors, an outing can be a welcome change. Walk through a nearby park, meet someone for an outdoor coffee, or explore a neighborhood you enjoy. Choose something close enough that getting there feels manageable with the time you have.

Here in Florida, late December activities can look very different from the snowy scenes in Christmas movies. A picnic or an afternoon outside may fit the weather better than a winter activity. If you’re traveling somewhere cold, check conditions and opening hours before heading to a trail, rink, or seasonal event.

Make Time to Use Your New Gifts

When you’re deciding how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s at home, look at the gifts you’re excited to use. Open the book, try the coffee maker, or choose a recipe from the cookbook you received. Setting aside an afternoon gives you time to enjoy something new before your regular schedule picks up.

For electronics or appliances, keep the packaging together until you’ve checked that everything works and decided to keep it. Try on clothing while an exchange is still an option, and set aside anything that needs a different size. This also helps you decide where each item belongs instead of moving gift bags from room to room.

Leave an Evening Free to Rest

If holiday hosting or travel has filled your schedule, keep an evening open for whatever sounds relaxing once you’re home. That might mean reading, taking a bath, watching a favorite show, or going to bed earlier than usual. Choose something that feels easy after the day you’ve had.

The tree lights, a comfortable spot on the couch, and a book you’ve been looking forward to can be enough for the evening. Leftovers or an easy dinner keep cooking to a minimum. Put your phone aside for a while if you’d enjoy a break from messages and holiday posts.

Finish One Manageable Home Project

Choose a project with a clear stopping point, such as organizing your closet, sorting a drawer, or clearing a kitchen counter. Start with an area that has been frustrating you during everyday routines. Keeping the project small makes it easier to finish and put everything away in the same sitting.

If you’re ready to pack up holiday decorations, gather the containers before taking everything down. My Christmas decor storage tips cover ways to organize ornaments, lights, and other seasonal pieces. Take photos of displays you’d like to recreate, and keep a short list of anything that needs replacing for next Christmas.

Make Time for Self-Care During Christmas Week

Self-care during Christmas week can include getting back to the everyday things that were pushed aside during the holiday rush. Make a meal you enjoy, take a bath, or spend a little longer on your evening skincare routine. Leave yourself time to do those things without trying to fit in another project afterward.

A short yoga session or some gentle stretching can be another way to spend time at home. Roll out your mat somewhere comfortable and choose a familiar routine or a class that fits the time you have. If you’d rather sit quietly, try a short guided meditation.

This is also a good opportunity to take a break from scrolling through everyone else’s holiday plans. Put your phone away during a meal or leave it in another room while you read. Spend that time doing something you were looking forward to instead.

Start Small New Year’s Habits

Use the days before January to try a routine you’d like to keep in the new year. That could mean reading a few pages before bed, preparing breakfast the night before, or taking a short walk during your lunch break. Choose something that would be useful during a regular week, too.

Connect the new habit to something you already do, such as writing a few lines in a gratitude journal after making your morning coffee. Trying it now gives you a chance to notice what fits your day and what needs adjusting. A notebook or a short note on your phone can help you keep track.

For a morning routine, start with one change you’d appreciate when work or school picks up again. Setting out clothes or packing your bag the night before might make the next morning easier. Give yourself time to try that change before adding more.

Look Back at the Year and Plan for January

Scroll through your photos and save a few favorites from the past year. Write down a trip you loved, something you accomplished, or an ordinary day you want to remember. A few notes in your phone or a notebook can help you hold onto details that might otherwise get lost.

When you’re ready to look ahead, start with dates and plans that are already taking shape. Add appointments, school breaks, birthdays, and other commitments to your calendar before setting new goals. Then choose something you’d like to make time for, such as seeing friends more often, planning a trip, or trying a hobby.

Make a Vision Board for the New Year

Put on a favorite playlist and spend an afternoon making a vision board for the year ahead. Gather photos, words, and colors that reflect places you’d love to visit, experiences you’d like to have, and things you want more of in everyday life.

Use poster board and magazine cutouts, or make a digital version with photos you’ve saved. A trip you’re hoping to take, a hobby you’d like to try, or more time with friends can all have a place on your board. Display the finished version near your desk or save it as your phone background.

Make Your New Year’s Eve Plans

Use a little time earlier in the week to decide how you’d like to spend New Year’s Eve. If you’re going out, check availability and make any reservations you need. If you’re staying home, choose dinner, pick a movie or game, and decide who you’d like to invite.

For a small gathering, ask everyone to bring a snack or drink they enjoy so the hosting feels manageable. A favorite takeout order, a few treats, and a playlist can make the evening feel special. Leave some time to catch up and hear what everyone is looking forward to in the new year.

How to Spend the Week Between Christmas and New Year’s When You’re Working

If you’re figuring out how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s around work, start with the hours you have free. A movie after dinner, coffee before work, or a visit on your next day off can give you something to look forward to. Let people know when you’re available so they can include you in plans that work for everyone.

If you’re hosting visitors while working, talk through the schedule ahead of time. Share ideas for things they can do during the day and decide which meals or evenings you’ll spend together. That gives guests something to look forward to while helping you keep the commitments you already have.

Save longer projects for a day when you can finish them. A return packed and ready to send, a grocery list for January, or a cleared kitchen counter may be enough for a workday. Choose the task that will help you most when you get home.

Helpful Finds for Christmas Week

A planner or notebook can keep January dates, return reminders, and ideas for the new year in one place. If you prefer a digital calendar and your phone’s Notes app, use those for the same purpose. Pick a place you’ll remember to check when your normal routine starts again.

James Clear’s Atomic Habits explores how small, repeated actions can help you build habits over time. It’s a useful option for reading during Christmas week if you’re thinking about routines for the new year. Keep a notebook nearby to save an idea you’d like to try in your own day.

A gratitude journal gives you space to write down moments you want to remember and things you appreciated. The Five Minute Journal offers structured prompts if you prefer some direction when you sit down to write. A regular notebook also works for a few lines about your day.

A yoga mat gives you a place to stretch or follow a yoga class at home. Keep it somewhere convenient if movement is one of the routines you’d like to make time for. If essential oils are already part of your routine, a favorite scent can be another part of your quiet time at home.

The Calm app gives you guided meditations to try when you’d like a few quiet minutes. Start with a short session that fits your schedule and explore the options that interest you. These can also be useful for trying a meditation routine before January.

For organizing smaller items, clear storage containers let you see what’s inside, while a label maker helps identify what belongs in each spot. Use them for desk supplies, small gifts, or everyday items that need a home.

For time at home, a book, puzzle, or game gives you an activity you can leave out and return to throughout the week.

Shop My Christmas Week Favorites

Once you’ve decided how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s, browse my ShopMy collection for finds to go with your plans. The shopping links are gathered in one place so you can come back to anything that catches your eye.

Shop the Christmas week collection.

Christmas Week FAQs

• When should you put away Christmas decorations?
  • Choose a time that fits your plans and traditions. You can clear wrapping paper and find homes for new gifts while leaving your tree and other decorations up to enjoy.
• How can you get ready for January without spending the whole week organizing?
  • Choose one task that will help your first week back, such as checking your calendar or planning a few dinners. Finish that before deciding whether you have time for anything else.
• Can you start New Year’s habits before January 1?
  • Yes. Try one small change that fits into your usual day, such as reading before bed or journaling with your morning coffee. Adjust it as you learn what works for you.
• What can you put on a New Year’s vision board?
  • Include photos, words, and reminders of experiences or goals you’d like to make time for. Travel plans, hobbies, home projects, and time with people you love can all have a place.

Enjoy the Last Days of the Holiday Season

As you decide how to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s, make room for the things you were looking forward to all season. Enjoy the decorations, make a plan with someone you’ve missed, and choose a few practical tasks that will help you in January.

This is also a good time to notice what you’d like to carry into the new year. A short yoga routine, a few lines in a gratitude journal, or an easier morning routine can become part of your days after the holidays. Try something that interests you and give yourself time to see how it fits.

Keep your plans flexible as the week unfolds. You may feel like spending an afternoon making a vision board, meeting a friend for lunch, or staying home with a new book. Enjoy the parts of the season you love, and give yourself time to look forward to what’s next.