Is this a crazy time of year for you?
Christmas, in modern times, has become synonymous with an end of calendar year rush to complete everything, do everything and be everything.
Its got so busy that we try to manage it in advance, as if by preparing and getting organised earlier and earlier we can ‘beat the rush’. All this seems to do is extend the madness. It seems that no matter how much we ‘do’ we’re still caught out by more to juggle: shopping, cooking, the rush to finish off everything at work (really?) before we get to stop and finally go on holidays.
Is it any wonder when we all come to sit down around the festive meal table we’re exhausted, frazzled and already ‘over it’?
I’ve heard no less than 5 otherwise bright, positive people say this week they’re ready for this year to be finished already. Whoah!
So if you’re longing to come together with loved ones in a peaceful celebration that avoids a ton of rush and stress, here are three simple tips for the festive season just for you. Gentle reminders of how delightfully wonderful life can be–if we let it.
1. Let go of the need to ‘have it all’. Stop trying to have the perfect holiday, Christmas gathering, gift or meal. Stop trying to be the perfect parent, partner or friend. “I want to make things nice for everyone’ I can hear you say. If you’re worn out, cranky and resentful it doesn’t matter how beautifully decorated the living room is. Decorate by all means, but make the one rule is that is has to be fun! A good question to ask yourself is: Am I too busy holding on to an ideal of what I think the holidays or Christmas ‘should be’, rather than focusing on what will truly make me and my family happy? It could be as ‘perfect’ as piling in the car and going on an evening picnic.
2. Do it for you. This is a hard one to get your head around. When you’re too busy trying to meet other’s needs and live up to impossible expectations you forget about your own need for rest, laughter –and play and end up exhausted or miserable. ‘But its all about the kids’, I hear mums and dads cry from the flurry of mad rushing to get buy yet more ‘stuff’ for Christmas. Our kids, families and friends take their cues from us. If you run yourself ragged, and focus on doing and buying rather than ‘being there’, that’s what they will see as normal. If we want our loved ones to treat themselves well and experience life at a healthy, happy relaxed pace–we need to first claim that for ourselves.
3. Come together. Make your Christmas list filled with on thing: time to enjoy the simple things in life. Dive into cricket in the back yard, lean over leisurely jigsaw puzzles and board games. Walk the dog to the park together and throw the ball. This is the true pleasure of life (its also the most common deathbed regret): spending time with loved ones. So make a pledge (public or private) to spend less money and more time this holidays. When you decide Christmas is about togetherness not materialism, and start smiling, connecting and having a laugh, trust your family, friends and loved ones will ‘get it’ and follow your lead.
Is it really that simple? In a word…yes! That’s why they’re simple pleasures, because they don’t take much fuss. (The fuss, by the way, is something marketers dreamed up to get you spending!)
To get started… Why not write a personal or a family list of things you would like to do this holidays that involve spending time not money. Camping, fishing, swimming, learning to surf, baking macaroons, reading in a hammock, playing monopoly…The list is endless!