Holidays

Prioritizing for the Holidays

Preparing for the holidays can be stressful. My guess is that you already know what decorations you will be putting up and what your routine will be for purchasing presents. You at least have a general idea from holidays past what your schedule will look like and what nights you will be celebrating.

As you plan for “the season” I would encourage you to spend 15 to 20 minutes prioritizing what you would like to accomplish during the holidays then use this to orchestrate your routine.

What would you like to honor for the holidays? Is it your religious convictions, creating celebrations with your immediate family, catching up with extended family and connecting with them? Maybe you are thinking about taking time off and slowing down. (Why is that when people take time off from work, they end up expending so much energy that they need a vacation afterwards?) Will you be taking the opportunity to count blessings, share the attitude of gratitude with others, or enjoy the city?

After you prioritize what you want for the holidays, you need to decide how you will organize them to achieve the goal.

Keep you expectations realistic. If the holidays represent intimate time with your immediate family and you have teenagers, family planning may include only one activity together because a teenager’s typical goal is to spend their free time with their friends. If the holiday is to honor your religious convictions, set up some time daily to read the doctrine of your choice. Decide how you would want to do this and where you would like to honor this decision. Will you do this in the morning with your coffee, or would it best to do it in the evening right before you go to bed? If you want to make a difference this holiday, spend time visiting a nursing home or church members who are shut ins and take them a plant It is no secret that when you work on making a difference in the lives of others, it is character building. It can be more of a gift to give, than to receive.

Regardless of what you decide to honor this holiday season, be cognizant of the following:

Keep expectations realistic. Stay aware of what you can do to contribute to your own experience. If you depend on others to be part of an event, your celebration will be more difficult to implement.
Don’t overbook. The holidays can easily become overwhelming, so keep them simple so you can really enjoy the events.
Schedule plenty of down time. Allow the holidays to be a time when you reflect and replenish. You will have to schedule rest and relaxation into your day.
Stay focused on your priority. You may need to remind yourself daily that your main focus will be to enjoy your family. If your mother-in-law is demanding, find other things that you enjoy.
Enjoy the present… not the presents. Notice what is positive in your life and take it all in. Many people find the holidays difficult because of life stressors, such as loss of a loved one, divorce, financial insecurity. Find opportunities to count blessings, even if it is as simple as enjoying the warmth of a comforter wrapped around your body or the smell of soup as it cooks in the kitchen. You can always find opportunities for which to be grateful.

I will continue to be grateful for family, friends and loved ones…and especially for you.
Happy Holidays!