Check out the video I made on this topic, here:
While there are definitely things I enjoy about the holiday season (my Pandora Christmas station is one of my great life pleasures!), I have an inner Grinch-y part that doesn’t like the extra stress, pressure, and overwhelm that can happen this time of year.
I’m consciously working on stressing less this season so I can be more present to enjoy the magic and festivities with friends and family.
Here’s some of the things I’m focusing on in order to get the most out of this time of year. I’m sharing in hopes that they’ll be helpful to you too.
Eat well! I recently heard that most people gain 5-15 pounds between Halloween and New Years Day. Yikes! With all the extra parties and gatherings that involve holiday treats, it is my intention to think of food as fuel and stay away from foods that don’t serve me nutritionally. If I know certain foods “zap” me of energy, I want to make different choices, so I will have the energy I want to get stuff done and enjoy the people I love.
Move your body! With all the extra things on the schedule and to do list, it’s easy for exercise to get moved towards the bottom of the priority list. But we know that exercise improves our mood and energy. It doesn’t have to be a big event. Twenty minutes is better than nothing. Just keep it on the priority list! No excuses.
Get the sleep your body needs. With everything going on, it can be harder to get the rest we need. Plus, party foods and beverages and relying on extra caffeine can all impact our sleep quality. Be mindful of things that get in the way of a good night’s sleep, so you can have the energy and well-being to get things done and enjoy the season.
Safeguard your schedule. This time of year, our schedules can start bursting at the seams! Being conscious of this can help us be more forward-thinking in order to create balance. If on top of your normal work and home duties, you have two band concerts and a dance recital and company coming into town all in one week, can you find some down time for yourself somewhere? Finding a way to carve out just 20-30 minutes of intentional down time can help.
For many of us, our time is our most precious commodity. Think about how you really want to spend your time and energy. It’s ok to say no to things, even fun things, to maintain your sanity and your inner peace.
Prioritize the work you most want to get done. There’s so many extra things going on during this time, that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What are the most important things you want to focus on? What do you want to get done to feel good about how you finish out the year? What steps do you need to take to ensure you make the progress you’d like to make? Think about your 2020 goals and think about what you can do to set yourself up for success now. Find ways to take action that make sense for you. Then celebrate yourself for the actions you take!
Set reasonable expectations (adjust expectations as needed) and give yourself permission to be okay with that. So many of us set unreasonable expectations for what we can do during this time period. I love my focused productive time and getting things done, and I don’t like the disappointment I feel if I don’t get as much as I want done. And this time of year, with everything going on, I need to be extra conscious of my expectations of myself so I don’t get disappointed if I don’t get to it all. If I give myself permission to just say, “Okay, I’m not going to get as much done as I typically would,” I’ll be much happier and saner and more able to enjoy and be truly present with the things that matter most to me.
Make time for fun and people you love! Enjoy them! In all the hustle and bustle or our schedule and to do list, we can forget to make time for truly being present with and enjoying time with the people we love. Being intentional about creating quality time will help us be more present and enjoy the season more.
Let me know your thoughts. What are your biggest challenges in maintaining balance this time of year? What do you do to maintain or create balance?
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