Does anyone feel like as soon as the turkey was cleared from the Thanksgiving table the Christmas tree went up and OMG OMG OMG it’s Black Friday but if I wait will I get a better deal on Cyber Monday or should I just go shopping on Saturday and support the small businesses and OH LOOK the neighbors have their lights up before me!!!
If reading that run-on sentence felt anything like your current brain function, I’m here to tell you to relax. It’ll all work out. Here’s how I know you can handle the holiday stress.
The day before Thanksgiving, the main room in my house was cluttered with ladders and paint cans. The morning of Thanksgiving, I was taking painter’s tape off the windows and replacing outlet covers. I was also cleaning and cooking for approximately 22 people coming to my house for dinner.
Normally, that out of control feeling would make me FREAK OUT. I’ll admit that I was hoping for perfection but let that notion go when it was clearly not going to happen. So when 22 people arrived, I poured a glass of wine and started assembling the cloth napkins and the napkin rings.
My sister said, “How are you keeping it all together? I would have been freaking out if I didn’t have the table completely set.” And I guess I should have been freaking out, knowing me. But I knew everyone was there for me, my family, my food, and a day of memories. And I knew that I would be the only one who remembered that the table wasn’t set. So I gave myself permission to relax.
Now that Christmas is coming in what feels like 36 seconds, it’s time to chill out. I mean, have you been out on the roads? People get NUTS this time of year.
Research shows that the average American spends 42 hours on holiday activities at this time of year. In the midst of traveling, decorating, buying gifts, and hosting and attending holiday parties, it can be a challenge to find a few relaxing moments to yourself.
Don’t let this happen to you.
Think about holiday zen instead of holiday stress. Yes, it is possible.
Maybe you relax with a warm bath, some Christmas music, or a glass of wine (or all three if you’re feeling really adventurous). Just make sure you find a way to stop and enjoy the beauty of the season.
2 comments
Wish I was going to be home for the party, I may be able to join for the first part! I do find myself much, much calmer this year as compared to years past, though I’m not sure why. Just something in the “what gets done, gets done” feeling I guess! As long as we’re all together and laughing and making memories, that’s all that matters!
I am trying to do all of my shopping online. Because people are CrAzY this time of year!!! 🙂