With the stress of planning and preparing for the holidays, we need to celebrating the holidays in a more peaceful and simple mindset. 

 Embracing a more simplistic holiday lifestyle means balancing the time between work and more quiet domains of life. Bringing back simplicity means reconnecting with extended family and friends and rediscovering the pleasure in the small things you used to do for yourself - especially during the holidays. However, this is easy to forget once planning gets underway! In this article, we’ll focus on several ideas for reducing family holiday stress and how to introduce simplicity into your busy holiday schedule.  

Every Day is a New Year  

Remember to save a portion of every day for yourself.

If holiday planning takes a toll on you, you won’t have enough energy to give to your family. This creates a no-win situation.

The New Year and Christmas are as good as times as ever to embrace a more simplistic lifestyle. Work has fundamentally challenged the notion of simplicity in the modern workplace, but there is no time like the present to reevaluate and reschedule time for nonwork-related matters.

Bring Joy and Meaning Back Into Your Life

Families often forget the meaning of the holiday – the importance of giving. Take the time to reflect on how you can make more time for family without getting more stressed.

Begin finding the practical solutions by talking to your partner or family member. Sometimes the solution involves making a switch in your schedule, sometimes in your head. It all boils down to quality time and being more available. Holiday planning is an inevitable part of our lives, but there are ways of balancing it. If you find that you are too stressed, perhaps it's best for your partner or hired worker take on some of the holiday planning tasks.

Time Out for Gratefulness

The purpose of the holidays is to relive moments of joy. This can be done by practicing gratefulness.

·         Make the holidays your time out as family.

·         Say a blessing of gratitude for food and for the company of each other.

·         Listen to the words in your prayer. Hear the words and mean what you say.

Practicing these random acts of gratefulness can bring back the meaning of family as well as the true spirit of love.

Instant Pick-Me-Up

If you are finding that the stress of holiday stress is become too stressful, it’s time to take a quick pick-me up!

·         Meditate on your gratefulness prayer during random acts during the day.

·         Let your children, partner or another family member know how important they are to you through your actions or your words.   

Visiting Family - Cherish moments together.

Focusing on family is all about creating special holiday family moments. Rather than perfecting holiday planning, I look forward to the holidays as time to be with family.

·         We spend time looking through the family album and adding recent pictures.

·         We make a wall poster of everyone’s favorite moments or use magnetic letters and words and make a memory board on the refrigerator.

·         We open a keepsake box with my family and reminisce.

·         We visit extended family and in-laws.

By keeping these bonds strong your children will gain family traditions and develop strong values.

Explore the Wild Outdoors during Wintertime

Although many people prefer to stay indoors during wintertime, taking a nice walk through your neighborhood, in the mountains or a stroll in the park can be another way to bring balance back into your life. Take the time to watch your child’s face as you see him or her mention the name of trees, animals or other scenes noticed along the way.

Be adventurous and build a snowman.

Sit quietly, your child in your lap, and enjoy the peacefulness that surrounds you. Hug your child and whisper in his or her ear. Tell him how much you love him or her, then lean close so your child can whisper the same sentiments in your ear. 

Experiment but Enjoy Your Time 

Give yourself a week to two to experiment with your new goals. 

Do you notice any changes? Are you expending your energy well? Are your goals feasible? Do you have time to pursue old pastimes and still enjoy the holidays on a level that is satisfying to everyone involved?  

Time with your family during the holidays cannot be measured on a chart. Make those moments count!

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2011 Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, includes ownership and copyrights of any material contributed.  No unauthorized usage of any published material within the Guardian Angel Kids website - unless permission is first granted by copyright owner of said material.