Joy

Beginning November 1 and on throughout the month of December, reminders of the holiday season are everywhere. Magazines, displays, catalogs, decorations, advertisements, and books all offer endless tips for the most perfect, peaceful, joyous holiday ever. But the pressure to create the ideal holiday can be incredible, often leading to anxiety, stress, and even burnout so that we find ourselves counting down the days until it is all over.

Thanksgiving and Christmas should bring a tremendous amount of joy to our lives. If we’re committed to living a quiet and simple life, then we need to actively make decisions to carry that into the holidays. It won’t happen by chance. Taking a few bold steps starting even now can make a significant difference in truly enjoying a meaningful holiday season.

Decide What Is Truly Important

No one can do everything during the holidays. There will always be one more cookie recipe to try, one more room to decorate, one more gift to buy, and one more event to attend. To avoid burnout, make a list of what is truly important to you and your loved ones and then stick to it. List everything that normally happens during the season as well as the important things that never seem to happen because they get crowded out. Then cross off every activity, event, or commitment that is truly not important.

Be ruthless about what is valuable, but be sure to ask for input from your loved ones. While you may think something is expendable, it may be the one Thanksgiving tradition or  Christmas tradition your child or husband looks forward to each year. Decide as a family and then enjoy the truly important parts of the holidays.

Know How You Plan and Work Best

One key to avoiding burnout is deciding if you are an early or late holiday person. In other words, is it less stressful to get everything done early or does starting too early cause you to continue at a frenzied pitch until midnight the night before because you can’t stop? It might sound silly, but women approach the holidays differently and there is no one right way to do it. Some women start their Thanksgiving meal planning in July and others in the middle of November.

Determine if you are happiest if you shop early and have everything wrapped by December 1 or if you prefer to shop the week before Christmas. Do you like to bake ahead or wait until the week of Christmas? Think back over the years that have worked well and know what works best for you. As much as you are able, put those plans into action.

Write Everything Down in One Place

Trying to mentally juggle dozens of details is a sure-fire recipe for major stress. Write everything holiday-related in one place whether it is a notebook or a three-ring binder. Make lists for foods, menus, gifts, parties, photos, cards, travel, etc. If you need stocking stuffer ideas, don’t miss my post 290+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas for All Ages {Free Printable Shopping Lists}.

If you have a brilliant idea, write it down immediately. If you find a recipe you want to try, make a photocopy and add it to the notebook. Keep everything written down in one place and don’t depend only on digital copies or bookmarked recipes on a website that can disappear. You might enjoy using A Cozy Christmas Planner in my shop which I update each year.

Avoid People Who Ruin Holidays

One of the biggest sources of stress during the holidays is other people. If there are people who consistently ruin your holidays, don’t spend time with them. Yes, it may create friction with other people who won’t agree with your choice. But if spending time with certain family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers literally ruins the holiday, find a way to get out of it if at all possible.

Saying “No” To Holiday Pressures can be difficult, but so worth it once you make the choice and follow through. This is especially true if you have children. They should have the joy of happy holiday memories during their childhood, not memories of dread, anger, and fighting.

Remember That Less is More

Accept your limitations. Make peace with the fact that you cannot do everything and be everything to everyone.

Do less and enjoy it more.

Rather than attending two parties a week for five weeks, attend one party a week. Or attend a party every other week. Focus on truly enjoying the moment when you are there rather than worrying about the next thing you have to do as soon as you can reasonably get away.

The holiday season can be one of tremendous meaning and celebration. Thanksgiving celebrations and celebrating Christmas should add joy and depth to our spiritual lives and our family life. By focusing on those aspects that truly bring joy and peace, it’s possible to avoid the stress and burnout so often associated with the season. This year, make choices that will do this for you and your loved ones. Start planning now.