Stress Less, Thrive More Holiday Survival Tips: Tip #1 - Let Go of Expectations
Nov 15, 2022
NEW Weekly series on how to stress less and thrive more this holiday season. No matter how you celebrate, there seems to always be an additional stress component this time of year. Getting together with family, work parties, and having house guests, are all situations that come with their own challenges. I am starting a new weekly series to take us through the New Year and offer tips to move through the season seamlessly.
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐩 # 𝟏: 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐆𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. In most situations expectation=disappointment. The reality does not often reflect the greeting card holiday we are hoping for. There are tensions at the dinner table, colleagues say inappropriate things at your work event, the turkey might come out dry, and you may overschedule and must disappoint someone. How can you start to release your expectations and lean into the beauty of the actual experience?
🌟Set realistic goals. Let go of the need to make the holiday “perfect.” Allow for mistakes, miscommunications and mishaps.
🌟Leave yourself (and your family) plenty of time to recharge. Be careful of overcommitting and set boundaries, if needed. It is perfectly acceptable to say, “I appreciate the invitation, but my schedule won’t allow me to attend.”
🌟Release the judgment. If you don’t feel like celebrating, are dealing with grief, or are not in a holiday mood, that is OK. It is perfectly acceptable to not be joyful. I sat alone last Christmas, dealing with tough emotions over the first holiday after the loss of my husband. But I allowed that emotion. By allowing it and not judging it, I was able to move though the emotion in the best way possible. Reach out to others if needed, or if the emotions get overwhelming.
🌟Take time every day for your own self-care and quiet time. What brings you comfort and joy? Yeah, do that.
I hope you enjoy this series and if you want to take it deeper, feel free to reach out! 1:1 sessions are available. For more info, click here.
