There is a weird contradiction between the image of the holidays as an all-relaxing, warm, and fuzzy time and the reality that, as we try to fit in all this yuletide joy, we still have our jobs — which often have increased end of year deadlines —, and all the standard routines of running our personal and family lives — cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, getting sleep, and so on. It can be exhausting just to think about!
This year, I want to encourage us all to be a little bit ruthless about how much "extra" we take on. Though setting limits seems like the last thing most of us would associate with the holidays, it may be just the thing to help us reserve enough energy to fully enjoy the festivities. Below are my top 5 tips for going the distance this holiday season.
Don’t feel the need to do it all. Identify a handful of things that make the holidays special for you. Is it cards? gifts? parties? decorations? Choose just a few activities and go all out rather than burning out trying to do a little bit of everything.
Be discerning about holiday parties. Have different rules for different events. Gatherings with close family and friends that you look forward to every year? Maybe those are absolute yesses, where you fully indulge in time and joy. Work parties which can also be "work" and open houses for neighbors (i.e., events where you have more of a social obligation)? Perhaps you go for a pre-designated amount of time, and apply a no sweets/no drinking rule so that they don't mess with your sleep/health/productivity routines.
Cut your spending by spending time together. Recognize that we are living in an era where vast consumerism has lost its allure, and many, many adults value experiences over things. For all the adults in your life, consider forgoing gifts and instead, spend some quality time together. Simple things like an evening out with friends, a fun excursion with your nearest and dearest, or a thoughtful, heartfelt note about how much you appreciate people who live further away, and making a plan to get together in the new year for an evening or weekend will communicate what matters most — that you love and care for these people.
Don’t go overboard. Kids, and certain adults, of course, may not have gotten the no-gifts memo. So consider making a gift list only for the folks in your life who you know take utter joy in giving and receiving gifts. To reign in costs, set a budget. Make a master list of everyone you want to buy for, and divide up the cost per person. Then choose 1-3 stores or websites you can visit to find something for everyone — museum gift shops, department stores, craft fairs, etc.
Stick to your routines as much as possible — such as wake up times, sleep, exercise, and eating healthy for most meals. Not only will you feel better and have more energy to enjoy the celebrations, sticking to your basic wellness routines will help you to go the distance without having to spend all of January recovering from a holiday binge.
I hope these holiday tips help relieve some of the season’s stress, allowing you to fully engage and enjoy what makes this time of year truly special. Have your own holiday hacks? Feel free to share them in the comments below so that we can all do a little bit more, by doing a little bit less.