That first day after the holiday rush is over is both a relief and a strange letdown. It’s fairly hard to explain because it’s such a weird mix of feelings and I wonder if other business owners feel the same way. I walked around all day yesterday in a haze – this after getting excited the night before about wrapping up another holiday and thinking about all the business related projects I want to get started. I think it’s a combination of not knowing initially what to do with myself and the crash from a high. But it’s done, another holiday done!
Next year is the year I turn my focus back on the business; we have plans – we’ve always had plans – but they always seem to get derailed by other life things. But as we move into year 8 of the business, it’s time. I’m working on making this a priority for 2015 and trying to clear my schedule to make it happen (despite the fact that I now have a job). In the scheme of things, they’re small changes. We’re not opening a store or writing a cookbook, though those two things always come up when we think about how static we feel sometimes, particularly since pretty much all of our friends have opened up their own spaces and written a book, but I suppose we’ve always moved at our own (snail’s) pace. But I can tell you that earlier this year I was in meetings about a book; then life happened and it just didn’t seem like the right time anymore.
I also think about how in past years I always ended my day writing a post, even during holiday madness times. What that means is that I made it a priority back then. And now? Well, I’ve expressed before that it’s been a struggle. Even with good intentions to write, it’s been harder to put the words down. I think like a lot of bloggers, Instagram has replaced the blog. It’s easier and spontaneous, less commitment and the engagement is better (so if you’re instagram, let’s connect!). But I won’t give up on this space. Posts will be fewer and farther between and there’s a far smaller circle than there used to be, but it I’ll still hang around if you will.
We’re looking forward to a quiet weekend. Actually, no…a LAZY weekend! We’ve usually done holiday markets the last shopping weekend of the season, but this year we decided to skip it – and I’m glad. A weekend of pajamas, hot chocolate, games, and maybe a little holiday adventure sounds really good right about now.
I’ve been a long-time reader, and I’ll stick around if you will 🙂
me too : )
Merry Christmas from Germany to you and your loved ones
Thank you ladies!
Still here!
hi!
It’s a VERY tricky season for small business owners. The goal, of course, is to sell loads and turn over tons of merch in one big end-of-year blowout and I am grateful for every sale and customer. The flip side is that I get totally exhausted to the point of dizzy spells and panic attacks. I go through the motions day after day for weeks, helping customers for 9 hour stretches alone (because I’m too stubborn and too much of a control freak to hire employees) all while busting ass to finish custom orders. All I want from Santa is a nap, but then there’s also that let down you mentioned. I somehow got invited to drinks by Sonny Carl Davis (the actor who played the dude that got Brad fired on Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and he mentioned the “post-wrap malaise”….that low that comes after you wrap a project and then have to re-evaluate what you’re doing with yourself. It’s tricky for me every January when I stop spinning and have to spend some quiet time in the painting studio by myself. It seems welcomed and jarring at the same time.
I hope you get to enjoy the quiet time soon, Paige. Post-wrap malaise sounds like a pretty accurate description – I’ve felt it after wrapping up other large projects.
I’ll always be checking the blog for all the latest news!
Oh, and congrats on having a lazy weekend!
well….we do have to clean the house. Long overdue!
My favorite blog – I’m not going anywhere!
Thanks, Kate!
you love ending your day by writing a post, and I love ending my day by reading one of your posts. 🙂
Thank you Brenda. xo
I like reading you because you write about real life with all the good and bad things …
Feliz Natal from Portugal!
Feliz Natal, Dulce!
Best wishes as you turn a new corner in your business and blogging life!
Thank you Rebecca. Best wishes to you too in 2015. Thanks for being a long time reader.
Me too, always look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks Helle. Always nice to see a comment from you.
Jenna,
I will always read your posts as long as you keep writing them. I found your blog through Apartment Therapy several years ago and was hooked immediately. I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing bits and pieces of your life with us.
Have a blessed holiday!
I remember that post from apartment therapy! Was just talking about it with the writer who interviewed me for that article the other day on Twitter.
I am a long time fan from Sacramento, California, and I am not going anywhere! Keep on writing and I will keep on reading. Thank you.
Thanks for being a longtime reader, Lulu. Happy holidays.
Jenna, I love your blog, and will be here anytime you post, frequent or not. Life moves us forward in ways we cannot predict. Happy holidays to you and your beautiful family. a long-time reader!
thanks for always checking in, Diane. Happy holidays to you too.
I’ll be here.Best wishes for the holidays, Jenna!
Thank you Dee. Happy holidays!
I’m sticking around!
thanks Anna!
Hi Jenna, another long-time reader here. Being about 10 years your junior, I find it strangely comforting to read the rhetorical life questions you post. The honest way in which you post about not having all of life’s answers makes me realize that life’s stages aren’t a goal, but a journey we get to create. Thank you.
Love that sentiment Lauren – that life stages aren’t a goal, but a journey we get to create. Happy new year to you.
Regular reader, rare commenter, just saying “hey!” and that I’ll continue to read what you post! The good “old fashioned” blogs that I adore, like yours, are slowly fading into the distance, being replaced by lifestyle blogs and so many sponsored posts. Not that I don’t enjoy those, because I read ’em all, but I still long for the long-form blog, such as this one, that expresses life – all parts of it. Happy New Year!
I find it to be true too, Marlena. The blogs I used to read are disappearing. I guess I’m an old dinosaur as far as blogs go!
I’m still here (and will be here)! I know what you mean about the drop-off in blogging…I used to blog nearly every day but I haven’t written a post in months. I keep meaning to but other things get in the way. That said, I love reading your blog and am so very glad you’re still writing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights, musings and bits of your life with us! May 2015 be a much better year for all. xoxo
Still love your blog! The nice thing about readers is that it doesn’t matter so much about the time between postings.