If you want to be able to give, you have to collect first.
In my own life, I notice seasons of collecting – learning, reading, listening, resting – and seasons of distributing – teaching, writing, creating. I deeply feel that my ability to distribute is sorely compromised when I don’t remember to give myself time to collect.
Collecting and distributing can overlap. I can be in a sharing season of my teaching even when I’m in a collecting season for my writing. But they are both essential and can’t be neglected.
Winter Break is a prime collecting season for me. I don’t hesitate to prioritize reading, spending time with family, playing, and not putting hours into creative distribution. That will come, but it will be better for having spent time collecting.