Making the Most of this Holiday Season

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~ Thornton Wilder

We are in full swing of the holiday season.  I love the holidays and all of the delicious food, fun times with family and friends and the gorgeous decorations of the season.  But, the holidays can bring stress as you try to do too many things, reunite with family and resume the family roles you had as a child, and deal with people who have differing expectations for the holidays.  Here are some tips from the experts that have worked for me over the years.

1. Take Time for yourself.  During the holidays we tend to put the needs of others ahead of our own needs.  Just as on the airplane when they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before putting it on others, you need to take care of your needs first.  You will be more able to assist everyone else if you are rested and relaxed.  So find time each day, to be quiet and do something just for you. You might have a cup of tea and drink it slowly, take a bath, read, pet your animal, or meditate.
   
   
2. This is your holiday too!  Every family has traditions and expectations for how to celebrate, what to eat and what to do.  Remember to set boundaries.  You don’t have to do it all.  If you say yes to all of the activities that others expect you to do, you can end up feeling exhausted and bitter.  Ask yourself how you want to celebrate this year?  Make compromises but don’t compromise on everything – be authentic and set boundaries so you enjoy the holiday, too.
   
   
3. Spend time in nature.  My favorite way to come back to the present moment is to go outside.  I like to go for a walk, drink a cup of coffee outdoors in a lounge chair, or take time to observe nature.  This will all depend on your weather, but if you can get outdoors, do it.
   
   
4. Single Tasking. Do one activity at a time and focus on the activity. The holiday loses some of the magic if you are wrapping presents while planning what you need to buy at the store to make cookies.  When wrapping presents, wrap presents.
   
   
5. Accept imperfection.   As a person who strives for perfection and tries to control everything, this one is always hard for me.  We need to let go of the idea that everything will go perfectly and we can make everyone happy. The reality is that is that everything will not go perfectly: there will be traffic, the food won’t all be ready at the same time, someone will be late, you won’t have a gift for someone who brings you a gift, and the list goes on. In addition, I have no control over making someone else happy- happiness is internal.  I just do my best and let go of the rest. The holidays are always better when I just go with the flow. 

 

1. Always come back to love.  Deep down, the holidays and life are about love. Dr. David Simon said that “the purpose of life is to love more and be happy.”  So when that relative or friend drives you crazy,  remember that everyone wants to be loved, valued and appreciated.  They might not know how to do this, but send them love and compassion.

 
May you make each moment of the holiday season joyous!  I hope you live in the present moment and are conscious with your heart and express gratitude for all of your treasures. Happy Holidays.
 
What can you do to enjoy this holiday season more?
 
How can you express your authentic self and balance taking care of your needs and the expectations of others?