Productive Procrastination for Christmas: Decking the Halls While Dodging Deadlines!

The 3Cs of life right now- Cranky, Coffee-Dependent, and pre-exam-Cramming. Being cranky during exam prep is practically a requirement. But hey, at least you’re not alone- Out there, millions of other students are also hating life, overindulging in snacks, and reading their notes for the nth time while crying Amazon rivers inside.

Remember: you’ve survived 100% of your bad days so far. So, grab another coffee, channel your inner overachiever, turn on the bixxh mode and keep going. You’ve got this… probably(smirk to myself!).

Studying for exams is a universal rite of passage—like puberty, but somehow more awkward and soul-crushing. If you’re currently buried under a mountain of notes, fuelled by equal parts caffeine and existential dread, congratulations- You are living the academic dream! Far from bagging a Nobel prize for it though.

Well thankfully, there is my better half nearby, to shake me down to reality on days I feel like I am sitting on the Iron throne! (Sometimes I do feel I need a whack on my head just to reset my internal operating system. I feel like a bugged up pirated version of Windows while my wife looks like the pristine updated version! Well, she is my better half… ahemm.)

Here’s a little something to help you through the cranky chaos.

Christmas is the season of joy, goodwill, and enough glitter to make your vacuum weep. It’s that time of the year when Mariah Carey reclaims her throne, wine replaces water, and the world collectively agrees that any alcohol is good and fairy lights make everything better. Beyond the twinkle and tinsel lies the heart of Christmas: connection, kindness, and making life a little brighter for everyone.

Today, my Wife/ Chief Happiness Officer/ Life Pilot (a simpler term: Better Half) decided to go to one of our yearly pre-Christmas destinations: The Nickel Christmas Market in Gauteng, SA. It is an annual fundraising project and platform for entrepreneurs of Kungwini Welfare Organisation since 2020, and initially showcased products made by their residents. It also plays a crucial role in the broader community through its social work services and community upliftment projects. A notable contribution to education is the Early Learning Centre, providing schooling for pre-school children within the community.

(Note: This year, the market will run from 27 November - 8 December. That means 2 more days for you my little Elf.)

It is one of the many places you can actually go to, be all pre-Christmassy and actually realise- Life is not all about you and your priorities.

For people with disabilities, the festive season can be both magical and challenging. While everyone else is dashing through the snow (or sweating under the sun, for us in the southern hemisphere), some may face barriers that dampen the Christmas cheer. Whether it’s physical accessibility, sensory overload, or societal misconceptions, these hurdles can make the season feel more stressful than joyful. The life of a person with disabilities… it’s like being handed a VIP pass to a club you never wanted to join, complete with the obstacles, stares, and the usual unsolicited advice from strangers. But here these wonderful people are, rocking it anyway, because if life gives you lemons, others make lemonade… I might as well ask for some tequila and a salt rim.

Historically, people with disabilities have often been misunderstood and marginalized. One of the words I find oddly disturbing is the term "handicapped", which supposedly emerged in the 1600s from a lottery kind of game with someone with ‘the hand in cap’. The darker meanings coalesced far later on.

Thankfully, decades of activism have brought about significant legal and societal change, although there is still much to be done.

So maybe do good this Christmas, and Pay It Forward?

Christmas is the time for giving, but what if we took inspiration from the 2000s film ‘Pay It Forward’? In the movie, a young Trevor comes up with a simple idea: do something good for three people, and instead of asking them to repay the kindness, ask them to "pay it forward" by helping three more people. Imagine the ripple effect of kindness spreading exponentially, touching lives in logarithmic ways you may never even see.

The Paediatric Cardiology team at Steve Biko excels in that regard, lead on by Prof Mitchell and Prof Joshi. I am still amazed and humbled by their motivation and dedication, even after 3 years of knowing that team. Paediatrics- Where the patients are tiny, but the challenges are huge for Anaesthesiology. Paeds Cardio? The challenge can rapidly evolve into an abyss because nothing says 'fun' like a toddler in theatre with a cold and cyanosis metamorphosing that little being into Smurf mode!

The other notable mention here would be 'Helping Hands'. They usually have a weekly Soup Kitchen during the cold months in Pretoria, where they also donate warm clothes to the ones needing it the most. You would be surprised how people line up to enjoy that hot soup, which you find nonchalantly too basic for your taste buds, while they smile with the feel of that hot food warming them up.

In short, Local charities and NGOs supporting adults and kids with(and without) disabilities often need extra help the whole year round. Whether you donate, volunteer, or raise awareness, your contribution can have a lasting impact. Better yet, try to encourage others to get involved and hence create a chain reaction of goodwill.

And well, in general, do make kindness a year-round practice: Christmas is a wonderful excuse to spread kindness, but why stop there? Like in Pay It Forward, the true magic happens when generosity becomes a habit. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, have a way of coming back to you—often in unexpected ways. Doing something good this Christmas is more than a feel-good gesture. By paying it forward, you remain anonymous and are part of a much bigger story- the human race to maintain humanity… a really weird euphemism.

So, as you sip your G&T and hum along to Jingle Bell Rock, take a moment to rethink it. Whether it is volunteering, donating, or simply sharing a smile, your kindness might just inspire others to do the same.

Don’t let your life just be another oxymoronic expression of God’s creativity and rather than perfecting the art of ‘Compassionate Indifference’, try to do some good.

This holiday season, try to make the world a little warmer and brighter, instead of just being a whiny little Grinch (yeah, I know, you were expecting the B word!).

Merry Christmas, and may it shine with love, laughter for you and all! Ho Ho Ho!