How to Design a Holiday Season You Feel Proud of
November 9, 2022
Picture this scene:
The holidays are approaching. You’re really looking forward to the months ahead, and have crafted a mental list of all the things you want to do.
Before you know it, it’s already mid December and you rush to put up decorations in your home. You plow through the madness of shopping, meals, and holiday parties. Then you wake up on New Years Day with one central thought:
“The holidays are over. I feel exhausted and didn’t do the things I wanted to do. And now I have to wait for another year.”
It’s easy to have the best of intentions heading into the holiday season. But the reality is, the holiday madness is just that - madness. It’s fast-paced, and filled with so many opportunities, events, and external pressures.
Our natural human tendency is to say “yes” to everything, go through the motions, and hope for the best.
But the truth is, if we don’t slow down to ask ourselves what is important to us during the holidays, we are more likely to look back feeling dissatisfied about our experience.
Many people fail to ask: What do I actually want to do? And what is meaningful to me right now?
So - how can you navigate this holiday season with intention? Consider trying out these methods:
1 - Reflect on the holidays last year. What were your favorite memories or experiences? Jot down three things that you want to repeat this year.
2 - Answer: What do you want to say “no” to this year? Perhaps it was something you did not enjoy last year, or something that is bringing you stress right now.
3 - Create your holiday bucket list. I LOVE this tradition and have successfully completed it the past two years. Simply jot down all the things you’re looking forward to the most over the holidays, and then make a list somewhere visual in your home. Check off the items as you complete them. Here is my list for this year:
4. Get your priorities on the calendar. Just as you’d schedule a work meeting, your child’s piano recital, or a dentist appointment, put your holiday plans on the calendar. For instance, if decorating your home earlier this year is a priority, put down a calendar block for your family on a specific day that you can do the decorating.
. . .
There are less than two months left in 2022. You deserve to make the rest of this year meaningful and authentic to you, and fill it with activities that bring you joy.
