No matter how much you may want to enjoy the holidays, there are a lot of things that get in the way. You may have to work a lot of hours, giving you little time to shop and spend time with loved ones. Gift buying may be a strain on your budget. You may have way more party invitations than you have time. You may have experienced a loss this year that’s making it hard to engage in the season. And then there’s the guilt: Either self-inflicted or bestowed on you by others. How can you just enjoy the season? Although everyone’s situation is different, here are three thoughts that may help.
- You don’t have to say yes to everything. It may seem like we have no choice, but usually we do. Making a decision on what to engage in and what not, is half the battle. Once you’ve made it, be all in. You know we can’t do everything. And everytime we say “yes” to something, we are saying”no“ to something else. What are you saying “no” to if you say “yes” to this invitation? Is that the best use of your time? I’m not saying we don’t ever have to make sacrifices, but why are we doing it? Relationship building is a good reason, for example. Your “yes” may be worth it, even if you’re not crazy about the idea. But if there is no value in what you are saying “yes” to, maybe you need to rethink your “yes.”
- Make some time for yourself. Consider the reality that your body and mind need rest. I have heard that at Christmas time, most people usually buy something for themselves when they are shopping for others. While that may be funny, it probably happens because we are sometimes depleted of self-care. We don’t have time to shop for ourselves, we don’t take the time to slow down, so while we are in the mode of giving, we feel compelled to give to ourselves. Nothing wrong with that, except that it’s usually not just the material things we lack. We need time to reflect, time to sleep, time to cook a healthy meal, etc. In the middle of all the hustle and bustle, take time for yourself and you may find the energy and enthusiasm necessary to enjoy some of the holiday gatherings you were dreading.
- The thought really is what counts. We have heard this expression a lot, so it may have lost some value. But the truth is that making a call, sending a card, giving a small gift, really does go a long way. There is no need to spend a lot of money to make people feel like you care. Thoughtfulness goes a lot farther regardless of how much was spend. Get creative and enjoy the process instead of feeling the pressure of having to spend more than you can afford.
The holidays really can be fun. We just have to be a little more intentional on what we say yes to, make sure we take some time for ourselves, and remember that it is the thought that counts.