What do you want to experience this holiday season?
So often, we go into the holiday season with a list of things we need to “do” in order for it to be a great holiday season. A better question to ask ourselves is “How do I want to be this holiday season?”
If we are not intentional about what we want to experience, our holiday season to be like, things can end up, chaotic and stressful before we know it. My intention for this holiday season is to experience a stress-free, peaceful, holiday season filled with ease. Here are things I’ve committed to, in order to make that happen:
1. I’m not going to attend any organizational holiday parties. The idea of looking for something fancy to wear, fixing my hair and getting glamorous sounds stressful to mthis year. Plus, I always freeze at the winter formal events. So, staying warm and stress-free by staying away from holiday parties.
2. Having quality time with my 85-year-old mom. We are attending holiday concerts and plays. I love this because it doesn’t require any effort on my part besides showing up in whatever I’m comfortable wearing. It allows us to both get in the holiday spirit together in a stress-free way. Fairbanks, is so full of incredible talent and it has been so neat to see!
3. I’m not going to overspend on gifts. I refuse to have a high credit card bill in January. Instead, I have created a maximum amount of what my comfort level is for spending, and I’m not going to go over it no matter what, and I’m not going to feel guilty about it one bit.
4. Cooking for large eventts sounds stressful (and expensive) to me this year. So, when I invite people over, I’m going to invite people to do pick up with me from a local restaurant, Dutch treat. I had nine friends over last night for a card game and we all ordered from a food truck. It was the best stress-free day, and I got to relax all day up until we started the card game. I had not relaxed prior to hosting people, or not laughed that hard in so long.! We all had such an incredible time that not one photo was taken the entire night! My cheeks were hurting by the end of the night. Relaxing, affordable, fun…and no dirty dishes!
5. I’m not going to put my tree up until about a week before Christmas. For some reason, anything extra in my house this year feels like clutter. So, I’m going to wait until right before Christmas to put it up and then I’ll take it down whenever I’m tired of looking at it. I usually try to put it up at the very beginning of December, but I’m just not feeling it this year. I’m enjoying the organized simplicity of my home right now.
6. Instead, of trying to do numerous holiday things to help others in the community, I’m committing to one. I’ve run myself ragged and experienced stress by committing to too many volunteer projects during the holidays before, and ruined my own holidays. So this year, I’m only going to focus on one. It’s one that I am very passionate about…uplifting those living on the cold streets of Fairbanks. Stay tuned!
A couple of things that I want to do, but I’m not going to force myself to do unless I am 150% feeling it are: making homemade gingerbread houses with my great nieces and nephews and making plum pudding with my mom.
Think about what you want to experience this holiday season. What are the commitments you can make to yourself and your family, so that you are guaranteeing your experience. Think about the things that you think should happen in order for it to be “the holidays.” When you think about those things, do they give you a feeling of energy and excitement? Or, do you feel like you might have to drag yourself to do those things? If you feel excitement about them, keep them on your list. If they don’t give you energy and excitement, feel free to scratch them off your list and be guilt free about it!
I think our families would rather have us be peaceful and happy around them, rather than trying to do all of the expected activities while being grumpy and stressed-out. Remember, people are going to remember “how” you were being, not “what” you did. Share how you are going to commit to what you want to experience by December 9, and I will choose one person to get something fun in the mail from me!
Leave a Reply