subject: Holiday Stress [print this page] Holiday Stress Holiday Stress
Dear Lauren,
I want to enjoy the holidays, but feel so stressed that it is hard to enjoy them!
Holiday Stressed
Dear Holiday Stressed,
Now is the best time to start planning for holiday stress prevention! And I do mean plan! Begin with a calendar and the end in mind. Consider the broad categories of tasks needing completion, i.e. charity, meaningful activities, gifts,cards, guests, gatherings, and when you'd like them done by in order to best enjoy the holiday season.
Then write the mini-tasks needing to be done in order to finish the task by that deadline. For example, if you want holiday cards mailed by December 8th, they will need to be written by December 6th, which means you'll need to start them by December 1st, which means you will have to have them bought or picked up by November 30th, which means you will want to have that family photo turned into a Christmas card real soon!
Many people are stressed by shopping, understandably so. We feel pressed to spend too much time and money on the activity. Again, think with the end in mind. When do you want you presents wrapped by in order to enjoy the process? When would you like gifts shipped by? How much do you want to spend? Now back it up. Home-made gifts are fun if you start early enough. Gift lists, purposeful & contained shopping, duplicate gifts with some minor distinction if you exchange with neighbors or for teachers, on-line shopping, and budgeting can help you keep your sanity.
Who would you like to remember over the holidays and how? What would you like you and your family to experience in order to make the holiday meaningful?
Most importantly, think about what, ideally, the holiday means to you. Now imagine what that means in terms of actions, behaviors, emotions, and experiences. You can make it happen. It takes setting purposeful intention, setting boundaries, and making a plan to contain and accomplish the things you feel like you need to get done in order to have time and space to experience the real meaning of Christmas.
Best Regards,
Lauren
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