How to Enjoy the Holidays

Do the Holidays feel busy, crazed, swamped, stressed? They are supposed to be jolly and full of giving. How can you make the Holiday season more intentional, less stressful, more relaxed and satisfying?

Here are some tips to help you create a sense of calm, ease, fun and gratitude.

Rest – Get 7-8 hours sleep. Don’t stay up late with holiday preparations, even if it means things don’t get done.

Choose – Choose what you enjoy doing. Do you really like to go out every night, or enjoy writing holiday cards or baking? If the activity is energizing, by all means, go for it. If it leaves you feeling drained and tired, say no and let it go. Consider how it leaves you feeling the next day too.

Reach Out to Others – Attempting to keep up with our list of “shoulds” makes it easy to get focused only on ourselves and our immediate families. The best antidote to self-focus is reaching out to someone who truly has less. Since helping others promotes positive emotions, consider volunteering at a soup kitchen or a children’s hospital, donating canned goods to a shelter, or make time for someone who is all alone. By helping others, you are helping yourself.

Take care of yourself – Keep up an exercise routine. Make conscious choices when you socialize. Eat healthy foods and limit sweets and alcohol. Don’t buy into the story that alcohol, sweets and rich food are inevitable around the holidays. Come January you will be proud you didn’t put on the extra pounds and will start the year on solid ground.

Simplify your schedule – Schedule “days off” and down time with no parties or events to give yourself some time to rest. Try a hot, salt bath! It’s a great way to detox and decompress.

Write a heart felt note – Do people really need more stuff? Would they rather have a genuine note of appreciation?

Food for Thought:

Ask yourself, “What if I only had seven days to live?” – What would be important? How would you fill your time? What would you want the ones you love to know? Or have? Would one gift be enough? Would you fill every moment of your time? Would you allow yourself to rest?

Contact Andrea to see how coaching can help create a sense of ease, calm and fun in your life. Try a complimentary 30-minute coaching call and take a “test drive.”
847-971-3643 / andrea@hgcoaching.com