HOLIDAY STRESS? 5 MUSTS FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS LIST!

” Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” Dr. Seuss

My Christmas list:

1) Self-care is the number one thing. If you honestly put yourself first, you will choose not to over-commit, overspend, over-eat, or over-drink. That’s a lot of overdoing it, and I may overthink the whole damn list. However, self-care is the key.

2) Honor the losses of the years past. It may be a loved one who has passed, a change in your job, or moving. The holidays can be particularly challenging for those of us who have lost loved ones. Consider changing up your traditions to make your feelings of loss considered. Make space for your grief. You can also find a new way to weave in the memory of your loved one into your existing holiday traditions.

How does one go about it when family alone sets off alarm triggers in one’s body?

3) Get a handle on your thoughts. Those thoughts…the ones that spin out of control, cause anxiety. They do not serve you and can often take you down a path that is not necessary. Past drama bubbling up can serve as a road map of where you have been. Setting personal boundaries around how much family is the proper dosage for you is okay. Respecting one another’s differences requires empathy and maybe distance. I get frustrated that some people do not have the same ‘Miss Manor’ background that I do. The basics of helping out, bringing a dish, and so on. It can make me nuts, so it’s best to let go of that before it happens. I have been pleasantly surprised and hope to be again. That said, I have to manage my thoughts when they go awry. When someone drops the ball, I no longer pick it up; I just let it roll away.

How do I try to turn around my anxious thoughts? When they arrive, I check in with how I am feeling. Recognize and validate my feelings and then try to rewire the situation as Louise Hay would: “All is right in my world; everything is working out for my greater good.” That does the trick. Add gratitude, and I will be set.

4) I place realistic expectations on how much I cook, shop, and decorate—setting a budget, getting sleep, moving my body, and taking walks. Remember that gifts do not reflect how much you love someone; do not go into debt. Write a love letter that will be kept. Or make something homemade like cookies.

5) Make it about quality time by being mindful of making memories. Plan a group walk to see lights and decorations. Go to church for midnight service. Simplify what used to seem complicated. Walk through a Christmas tree farm. Or a neighborhood decorated with Christmas lights. Christmas Caroling! Find snow and build a snowman. Help others in need, always.