Shopping! The Mall! Cooking! Decorating! Running around! Unexpected guests! Traffic! Parties! WHEW!!! It is amazing that we are able to fit all of it in during this crazy few weeks that are the Holidays!
It truly is enough to completely wear us out. But do we have to let the excess fun and activity wear us down? We certainly don't want to give up all of the fun, right? So how can we eliminate the stress that we feel while we continue accomplishing everything that needs to get done? I want to share with you a few ideas that I believe will help to lower your pulse rate during this most wonderful time of the year! I believe you'll find some value in these lessons!
1. BREATHE. Pay attention to your stress level. Go easy on yourself. If you feel a bit of crazy coming on, stop and take a few deep breaths. You CAN pull it all together, and you WILL.
2. SCHEDULE SOME DOWN TIME. That's right. Schedule it. Make sure with all of the tasks and to do lists you are working from that you have written in some time just for you. You deserve to enjoy the holidays as much as all of the people you are creating the experience for! Even if it's an hour here or a few minutes there, it is vital that you give yourself some time to relax and enjoy.
3. SET TIME LIMITS ON YOUR TASKS. Get that datebook out and write things down. 2 hours for wrapping presents. 1 hour for addressing cards. 2 hours for that next shopping trip. 30 minutes inside the next store. You get the picture. If you don't manage your tasks, they will manage YOU.
4. TAKE A BREAK FOR COFFEE OR TEA. Depending upon the time of day, take a little break. Get your beverage of choice and maybe a snack and sit down for a while and enjoy it! You will find that you can accomplish a great deal more if you hustle, then break, then hustle, then break. And you'll feel more energized moving on to the next item on your list after a little rest!
5. POUR YOURSELF A GLASS OF WINE. Remember that these are YOUR holidays, too! Celebrate a little. Allow yourself a glass of wine at the appropriate time of day! It's a small luxury, and if you choose to indulge, you should not put it off until you are completely exhausted at night! Take a minute for yourself now!
6. STOP FOR A FEW MINUTES AS YOU COMPLETE EACH TASK. Spend a few minutes appreciating what you've done and celebrating your success! Stop to admire your work. Stop to be grateful for what you have. Stop to be grateful that the task is done! CELEBRATE what you accomplish, task by task. Got those gifts wrapped? Celebrate! Got the kids fed and put to bed? Celebrate! Got the cat out of the tree - again? Celebrate! Got every name checked off your list? CELEBRATE! Remember: When you celebrate life, life celebrates you!
7. SCHEDULE AN HOUR OR SO EACH EVENING TO QUIETLY SIT. Sit yourself down in the middle of the beautiful holiday that you've created. Be grateful, and appreciate what you've created! Each evening, whether you're alone or with friends, find an hour of quiet time when you can just relax and enjoy your surroundings. This will recharge your emotional batteries.
8. GET YOUR MOST SNUGGLY PAJAMAS AND COMFY SLIPPERS and indulge in some self-pampering time. Do this as often as possible during the holidays. Think of it as comfort food for your body. Maybe apply a facial mask, or some special decadent scented lotion or foot cream. But pamper yourself like the Queen you are. You deserve a warm and fuzzy Christmas!
9. INVITE A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS OVER for a quiet candle-lit evening of beverage, light snacks and quiet talk. Every holiday gathering doesn't require dancing, noise and fireworks. Let your friends know when you invite them that it will be a very quiet evening. They will look forward to it as much as you will!
10. MAKE WRAPPING GIFTS A PLEASURE! You can make it a wonderful experience! How? By organizing your supplies. Get all of the boxes you need together. All of the wrapping paper. Be sure you won't run out of tape or tissue paper! Get the ribbon and the good scissors out. Have everything right there where you are working! THEN - get your beverage of choice. Put on some music that you love, or maybe a great TV show that makes you happy. Then get to work. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get it all done when you have everything you need right in front of you.
So there are my Top 10 ways to make the holidays merry and bright! I hope you can adopt some of these ideas into your holiday season. I promise you they will force you to slow down and enjoy every minute of the season. Then you'll be able to look back at the season and actually remember it, rather than blinking and having it all over!
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you the most beautiful and magical holiday season of your life! Cheers to celebrating every little thing!!!
Love,
Donna
1 comment:
Great advice, Donna! Thanks for sharing!
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