Christmas, nowadays, has a long build-up. From mid-November, the focus shifts to the festive season: parties, Christmas shopping, decorations, carols, food, holiday thoughts, and festive extravaganzas. Then the day comes, the culmination of all that - finally. Then, it's the next day.
Boxing Day doesn't arrive in isolation. How you spend December 26 often depends on how Christmas Day played out. Whether it was loud and long, quiet, or exhausting, Boxing Day is often the counterbalance, the yin to Christmas Day's yang. Moving with the flow probably works best.
If Christmas Day was big and busy
If Christmas Day involved hosting, travelling, or a long lunch, Boxing Day can be a welcome relief and the chance to catch your breath. A beach visit, a slow café breakfast, or time on the couch watching sport all count as legitimate plans.
In cities like Melbourne and Sydney, many people combine recovery with passive entertainment – the Boxing Day Test, the Sydney to Hobart start, or a movie session.
If Christmas Day was calm
If Christmas was low-key, Boxing Day can feel like the real outing day. If you're up for it, there's the sprint race that is the Boxing Day sales. Retail centres, markets, and tourist areas are lively without the pressure of December 25 expectations.
This is also a good day for short trips to coastal towns, wineries, or national parks, particularly in NSW, Victoria, and South Australia.
If you hosted and need space
Hosting can drain even the most capable people, particularly at the end of a long season. Boxing Day is an excellent excuse to leave the house. Cafés, cinemas, and shopping precincts offer neutral territory where no one expects effort. Chill.
For families, parks, beaches, and backyard cricket provide movement without thinking too hard.
If you spent Christmas alone or working
Not everyone celebrates Christmas traditionally. For some, Boxing Day is when the holiday actually begins. A walk, a meal out, or attending a public event can mark the day quietly, without fanfare.
Boxing Day doesn't require nostalgia. Just doing what feels right is enough.
If you're with family again
Many families use Boxing Day to reset expectations or as a second celebration. Easy outings, shared leftovers, and minimal scheduling keep tensions low. Kids benefit from outdoor play rather than another formal meal.
A better way to frame Boxing Day
Boxing Day works best as a release valve. It's the day pressure drops, routines loosen, and the year starts to wind down properly. It's that lovely time of year when there's no urgency to do anything, and no guilt. You don't need plans. You don't need permission. Just go with the easiest option.
Me? I'll let my overindulged digestive system a chance to settle and relax in front of the telly watching the Boxing Day test. That'll do.