Less Stress, More Fun This Holiday

By Cheryl Jones-Reardon | Last updated Dec 6, 2009, 1:23 pm

Do you want to create a less stressful, more peaceful holiday season? In this blog series I will help you do just that!

The party invitations are coming in the mail. We’re being bombarded by advertisements coaxing us to overspend. We’re planning menus and shopping for gifts with less money. The sugars, fats, and alcohol are readily available.

Eating unhealthy foods, rushing around, and spending more than we can afford stresses us out and runs us down. When the immune system is compromised, we get sick. By now we know the drill.

There’s a fine line between enjoying the festivities and feeling overwhelmed. If we aren’t mindful, we can be easily pulled away from what we value most. Oftentimes we are left feeling exhausted and stressed, dreading the bills that will come in January.

This year can be different. It is possible to have a peaceful holiday season! The key is to navigate through the next few weeks according to your own values. Values are those things that we care most about. They drive how we live.

During the holidays I like to spend quality time with my family doing little things like drinking hot cocoa, reading by the fireside, singing Christmas carols, baking cookies, hiking, cooking, going to church, watching a movie, playing chess, building a bonfire, and making edible ornaments to hang outside for our animal friends.

I like to journal about this year’s accomplishments and then set new goals or intentions for the New Year. I like to closely look at my spending and savings plans and discuss with my husband our goals for the next year. I like to reconnect with friends. I like to light white candles and enjoy moments of solitude.

I plan ahead how much money I will spend on gifts. I don’t use credit cards. I like to give and receive gifts that bring people together like tickets to UConn Women’s Basketball or Goodspeed Opera. I host a gathering where my friends bring gift wrapped shoe boxes filled with women’s toiletries for My Sister’s Place. When I do these things, I feel peace. And I feel nourished.

What does your list look like? Put this list in several places to serve as a reminder. Doing this will help you stay focused through all the distractions.

As you move through your week, whenever you are presented with a choice, ask yourself, “Is this aligned with my values? You’ll be tempted to live outside your values every day. It’s about paying attention to your choices. Remember, every choice you make either adds to your stress or helps you stay calm. Choose consciously!

Try this and let me know how it works for you!

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