The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate and to connect with family and friends. Yet this is also a time when your balance of body, mind, and spirit can be greatly affected because of changes in routine, extra duties, and feelings triggered by old memories.
Here are a few suggestions toward keeping your life together this holiday season:
- Stay organized. Write down things you’d like to accomplish and then create a prioritized approach. Would you like to give neighbors homemade baked gingerbread? Of course you would. Is there really time to do this in your schedule this year? Just be sure you have enough time or are simply realistic in regard to your energy as well.
- Ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by certain tasks that have to be performed, be sure to ask others to pitch in. For example, holiday meals can be pot luck. Young children can help by doing activities that are easier, like dusting, vacuuming, or helping with a pet. You can ask a neighborhood teen babysitter to take your kids to a matinee so that you can complete certain holiday preparations.
- De-emphasize perfection. Set realistic expectations for yourself. We are bombarded by magazine images showing gorgeous decorations and incredible meals. Remind yourself that a staff of people both designed and prepared those glossy stories! Sometimes “more is less” and simple ideas can be very heart-felt, even more heart-felt than elaborate ideas.
- Stay connected. Take a break from your holiday routine by meeting up with or calling a friend to chat briefly. Letting out your feelings to a supportive friend can greatly help you relieve holiday stress and anxiety. This can be great for both of you. Also, if you are feeling lonely or suspect that you will be, set up a way to stay connected and supported.
- Restore yourself. Don’t leave off your list a healthy walk or simple exercise or a nice healthy meal. Even a moment or two of quiet can be helpful–listen to a meditation tape or a favorite CD, practice yoga poses, or take a relaxing bath.
- Let it Go. Hold a witness perspective if an issue arises. It helps if you remind yourself that the things you were concerned about last year, the year before, or the years before that, are faint or nonexistent memories. So take a deep breath, fast-forward to your 85th birthday, and ask yourself, “Will I even remember this issue then?” Probably not. So enjoy the good things and let go of the rest!