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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – I went to two parties last night. I still have three tonight and one tomorrow night. I haven’t decorated yet, and I need to because family is coming in over the weekend. I haven’t even started shopping yet. The kids are coming in four days to bake cookies and pies. School plays and performances are coming up next weekend. These are the type of thoughts going around during the holidays. Many of my patients are struggling right now with their “to do” holiday list and, although they know the holiday season is suppose to be a time of joy and reflection, they don’t have time for either.
If you are feeling like you can’t find enough hours in the day to enjoy the holidays, maybe it’s time to re-think and re-write your “to do” list. Maybe it’s time to add you on that holiday list of things. It is impossible to enjoy the festivities if you are burnt out before they begin.
Suggestions for a new and improved “To-Do” list.
1. Be realistic. We all enjoy beautiful table settings and perfect gift wrapping, but nothing is perfect. Expecting perfection is the leading cause of burn out. Make it your year to be good enough.
2. Let go of a task when you don’t have time to complete it. If you find yourself behind in accomplishing one of your tasks during the holidays, let it go and jump ahead to the next task. Baking Christmas cookies is great fun, and everyone enjoys doing it. However…it’s the talking and connecting while baking that makes it enjoyable. Buy the dough this year and connect while decorating. This saves time. No, they won’t be as good, but the laughs and companionship make the memories, not the taste of cookies.
3. If you have difficult families coming in to visit, prepare short escapes. For example, plan ahead to meet up with your best friend for coffee and venting. This helps you feel less trapped, and you may find yourself more open to understanding your difficult family members.
4. Learn to say no. If there are too many parties and you begin feeling dread instead of excitement, you are spreading yourself to thin. Better to say no to a couple of parties and enjoy the ones you do attend.
5. If you feel lonely or isolated this time of year (many do so you aren’t alone) make a point to begin a volunteer activity. There are so many great ways to give back this time of year and the greatest thing about giving back is you are surrounded by other “givers”. There is nothing more inspiring than to surround yourself with people who enjoy giving or doing for others.
6. Healthy habits are important all year long. This time of year they are paramount because most of us consume double our normal sugar foods during the holiday season. Take at least 20 minutes each day for “movement” (note I did not say exercise). You will feel better, think better and relieve your anxiety/depression.
7. Stay within your budget. There is nothing more depressing than the financial blues after the holidays. You can prevent this by staying within your means. The best gifts have one thing in common—the card you wrote that accompanied the gift. Most of my most precious gifts were not the gift itself. It was the note that accompanied it. The more transparent and real the note, the more likely it will be the BEST gift ever.
8. Each day make the holiday season representative of your life. Take one aspect of your life that you are most grateful for and do one small action that represents that. For example, list the things you are most grateful for. Tomorrow, if your partner is on that list, do one really special thing for that person. That may be as simple as picking up a coffee for them, making breakfast for them, or giving them a shoulder massage. You will feel so much better if you focus on what matters in your life instead of getting sucked in to what commercials tell you is important.
9. Whatever or whoever God is to you…keep his omnipotence in your festivities. Without God, the whole season seems very superficial and crazy to me.
10. The holiday season is a time of memories for almost everyone. If those memories are painful and you find yourself becoming depressed, then a visit to your doctor must be number one on your new and improved to-do list. Depression is not a weakness, it is an illness.
This is a beautiful and sacred time of the year, but it is you who adds the beauty and sacredness. Make sure you take the time this year to put “you” and what you value most into your holiday season. Your family and friends won’t remember the razzle dazzle, but they will remember your smile, grace, and embrace long after the last decoration is packed away. –Mary Jo Rapini
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