Crunch time is here. Are the decorations up? The cards mailed? Baking day is on the calendar?
The holidays are a wonderful time of year with an atmosphere all their own. You want to enjoy every minute, not miss a single event or activity. But that mindset can be exhausting and actually take away from our enjoyment of the holidays. I have over sixty years of holidays' experience along with wisdom from my mother who could always see straight through to the heart of the matter. And there's always Psychology Today to remind me of what's healthy.
First, and foremost, ALWAYS take care of yourself. A beautifully decorated home and yard mean nothing if you're depressed and feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list. Once my children were grown and out of the house, we cut back on our decorating. We now have a smaller tree, less decorations overall. I don't spend an entire weekend pulling boxes out of the attic and trying to remember where the snowmen go. Please don't call me Scrooge--with holidays spent with our children at their homes, our house just doesn't get the glitz and glam.
The same goes for gift giving. Our children are now adults and I don't spend as much time worrying about their gifts. I know they have likes for certain things so I give them gift cards. I love to get gift cards, freeing me up to pick out exactly what I want. I spend my time and energy on our grandchildren, finding the particular things they want as well as some unexpected goodies.
Baking holiday treats is always fun but, again, if it becomes a chore, reconsider that chunk of time. There are so many small businesses who create beautiful treats--support them by ordering a tray of baked goods and promoting them to friends and family. Or pass on the tradition by encouraging your children and grandchildren to bake simple cookies and start their own holiday tradition.
Psychology Today gives these ten ways to survive the holidays:
1. Keep your regular routine.
2. Think moderation.
3. Be realistic, and try not to expect the “ideal” holiday.
4. Stay connected.
5. Throw guilt out the window..
6. Don’t be alone if you don’t want to be.
7. Focus on today, not yesterday.
8. Just say no.
9. Ask for help.
10. Be good to yourself.
Personally, I feel #10 should be numbers 1-5 but that's just me. Take care of yourself. I'm sure those who love you want you to be healthy and happy, not just during the holidays but year-round. And finally, from my mother, who witnessed 87 holidays, a simple reminder: "Remember The Reason For The Season".
