Let the January festivities start

A young woman sunbathing infront of a beach.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

When the holiday jingle kicks in, most people count down the days until they can rest, travel, and spend quality time with their families.

Yet for some, the festive month took a different tone; theirs was filled with relentless work, tight schedules and compulsory responsibilities they could not afford to abandon.

For them, January has become the quiet haven that December could never be. While the rest of the world takes ease into the New Year, they finally pack their bags and retreat into the solace of their home crunching the rest they deferred.

Grace Kenyatta is one such person. For the last six years, the quality analyst at a beverage company has spent her December working through the busiest time of the year in her industry.

“I usually wait until the end of January to visit my family. The first two weeks of January still feel like peak season, so by the third or fourth week, I can finally plan a proper visit.”

December is the peak season for the industry she works in. “People need drinks, and it’s all hands on deck. We need everyone around in case of a breakdown. Engineers are on standby, and everything runs on speed operations,” she says.

For Ms Kenyatta, Christmas and New Year’s have become synonymous with her work routine.

“I have only spent one Christmas away from work, and that was because we had an unscheduled break. Otherwise, we are only given the 25th off. On the 24th and 26th, we are back at work. This makes travelling impossible, especially for someone like me, who comes from Mombasa. You can’t go home and come back in just one day,” she says.

Initially, it was not easy to adjust. The first year felt strange.

“Everyone was going home, and I was stuck at work. It felt unfair. But what makes it bearable every time is knowing that I’m not alone. There are many of us working during the festive season, and that brings some type of comfort.”

 Grace Kenyatta, a quality analyst at a Nairobi based beverage company.

Photo credit: Pool

For someone from a close-knit family, missing out on Christmas holiday gatherings stings. This is the only time her entire family comes together.

“I have siblings in high school and university so during Christmas everyone is home. But my family has adjusted. They understand that I won’t be around, although my parents still ask me to rush home for even a day, which is impossible,” she says.

Despite the challenges, she appreciates the stability her job provides.

“Of course, I would love to be home with my family during Christmas. That’s the whole vibe of the season. If I could change things, I would. But I also understand the nature of my job and I have learned to accept it.”

Paid per hour

Ellen Harmon, a communications and marketing professional in the real estate sector, is also among those who have had to skip the December mingles with no choice but to opt for a work leave in January.

“This is my first time working during the December holidays,” she says. “In my previous jobs, we would close by the 22nd or 23rd and I’d head home to spend time with family. But since transitioning to real estate, it has been different. December is not even a peak season for us, but our boss insists we stay on, hoping for last-minute buyers who might take advantage of lower property prices.”

The mother of one says that in real estate, the rhythm of business doesn’t necessarily align with the festive season. While others were wrapping up the year with festivities, Ms Ellen was working from her Nairobi home, juggling her job and caring for her baby.

“The work in itself isn’t overwhelming, but it’s lonely. Everyone else is in shags (upcountry) enjoying chapati and chicken, while I’m here stuck to my laptop, trying to earn those extra shillings,” she laughs.

But working through December for her is partly about economics. “We are paid per hour,” she explains, “so taking a break means no pay considering the January fever.”

Her work-from-home arrangement allows her to join her family upcountry, but unreliable power and internet connectivity have made that impossible. “I would love to work from shags, but the network situation there is unpredictable. You can’t keep telling your boss, ‘Oh, the internet is down.’ So, I stayed back in Nairobi, where everything is stable.”

Despite the practicality of her decision, Ms Harmon admits that the emotional toll has been evident. Her husband and the rest of her family were upcountry.

Her voice softens when she says, “It’s especially hard when people back home don’t understand. They ask, ‘Where’s your wife?’ and my husband has to explain that I’m working. Some even think I’m avoiding the family chores. But really, I’m just trying to make ends meet.”

72 hours without proper sleep

Similarly, for Gian Gaile, a full-time DJ and football coach, December is anything but restful. His work peaks during the festive season which makes January his preferred time to step back and recharge although his work demand doesn’t change that much.

“When most people are resting and celebrating, that is when I have the most work. People want to go out, celebrate, and just have peace of mind, and my job is to ensure that they are entertained. It’s not unusual for me to work from 6 pm to 8 am or even juggle multiple shows in a single day,” he says.

The holiday period was a whirlwind for the DJ, it was packed with back-to-back events that left him with barely any time to sleep.

“This past December was crazy,” he shares. “On the 24th, I had a pool party from 10am to 6pm, followed by another show from 11 pm to 4 am.The next day, it was the same, morning pool parties, evening shows, and late-night gigs. By the 31st, I had three shows in one day, morning, afternoon, and night.”

Gian Gaile, a full-time Nairobi based DJ and football coach in his deck station.

Photo credit: Pool

His relentless schedule often saw him going for up to 72 hours without proper sleep. “Sometimes, I will manage to sleep for 30 minutes or an hour and a half, but that’s it,” he says. “But I have someone I pay to cover for me briefly, but it’s still a grind.”

While the December period was lucrative for him, it came at a cost.

“Yes, I earned more during this time, but I also spent more,” he notes. “If I want to take even a short break, I have to pay someone to step in for me, which can be expensive. For example, if I decide to take three days off to go home, I’ll need to pay someone around Sh4,000 per day. That’s Sh12,000 gone before I even leave.”

As he goes on his few days rest he explains to understand the nature of his job. The dynamic makes it difficult for him to take a proper break. “If I rest for a week, it means the following week I’ll have to work even harder to make up for the lost income. My work is pay-as-you-go, if I don’t work, I don’t earn.”

The perfect opportunity

Like the others, Jane Mumo, a communication specialist, December is not her ideal time to rest or travel. For her, January is the perfect opportunity to take her leave since she avoids the chaos of the festive season and focuses on quality time with loved ones at her own pace.

“I usually go, but you know the rush, the hustle, and the bustle of transportation during December, people rushing to reach home, the reckless driving. it’s very draining,” Ms Mumo says.

Instead of joining the crowd during the Christmas rush, she has adopted a different approach, which she believes works better for her lifestyle.

“I would rather take time and go when everything is calm, there is no pressure, and I can spend quality time with my family,” she shares.
Her decision to avoid travelling during the holiday season has also been influenced by January financial hiccups.

“Sometimes, if you have not planned well, you find yourself spending all your money while visiting family. Then January comes, and you don’t even have enough left to cover for your necessities,” she says.

Jane Mumo, a communication specialist who avoids the December rush. 

Photo credit: Pool

To avoid this pitfall, Ms Mumo mostly ensures her essential expenses, such as rent, are paid in advance before the holiday season begins.
While for some, this period provides an opportunity to earn extra income she is no exception.

“Side hustles during Christmas can give you a good amount of money,” she says. Her part-time work in IT services for international clients demands her attention during the festive season, and she prefers to prioritise that over travelling.

But she admits that staying in the city alone during the holidays can be lonely. “As an African, you find that Christmas is not Christmas unless you celebrate with your family,” she says. Seeing their festive pictures shared in family WhatsApp groups increases the pressure of missing out.

Despite this, she believes that her approach has been practical for the past two years. “It’s been two years now, consistently. Initially, I would alternate, one year I’d go home for Christmas, and the next year I’d skip it. But now, I avoid the rush altogether,” she explains.

Although Ms Mumo plans to continue avoiding the December chaos, she is considering a new strategy to bridge the gap.

“I have decided I will forgo December entirely, but I’ll plan to go a week earlier, maybe around the 11th or 15th, and stay with my family until the New Year. This way, I can still spend time with them without dealing with the hassle of crowded roads and reckless driving,” she says.

The proximity to her family home also gives her flexibility. “My home is near so I usually make sure to go frequently throughout the year, sometimes twice a month.”

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