Holiday Survival Kit – How to Keep Sanity and Perspective

Is it just me or did life perform some strange time-warp between Thanksgiving and Christmas? I’ll be lucky to get my tree up before Dec. 25th! Life moves incredibly fast these days and with the economic bumps and crazy politics our society has experienced, we may not always feel like we have enough or that we are enough. We are usually guilty of stretching ourselves too thin trying to do everything and be everywhere at once!

Here are some tips for your Holiday Survival Kit.

Shop Small Businesses

If you can avoid mall traffic – do it. Almost nothing will squash the holiday spirit faster than fighting for a parking spot!  Shop at your local small businesses if you can. Most small businesses carry items that perhaps you cannot find at the big department stores. Not only are the lines shorter, but you are encouraging your small business entrepreneurs and saving yourself a potential shopping hang-over.

Shop Online

If you cannot shop at your local small business – then there’s tons on great online stores! Almost everything is on Amazon these days. You can sip coffee in your PJ’s while stuffing virtual stockings. Save your driving time and send little presents in the mail! Best part is: some online stores will wrap and put a gift tag on it for you.

Give from the Heart

Does everyone have to have a $200 gift? I love the Holidays, but I feel that our society’s focus on commercialism has dulled the luster of Holiday Magic and some have all but forgotten why we celebrate this time of year. If you don’t celebrate for religious reasons – then think of it as the season of giving: but of giving yourself, your time, and your heart. Try not to focus on the monetary, make small gifts. Cookies and candy in a nice holiday tin, for example, is a great way to say: “I care about you” without breaking the bank.

 

Top Tip: My husband and I have decided to give one another the gift of love for the Holidays and focus our energies on fostering our cherished connections, spending time with friends and family or volunteering for a good cause. It doesn’t have to be about how much you spend. The Holidays can be about focusing on what matters most.

Potluck It

Entertaining over the Holidays? I have friends and colleagues over quite a bit – and it can be a ton of work! Not to mention the clean-up afterwards. Encourage a potluck celebration. Take some of the stress out of the entertaining so you can actually enjoy your time with friends and family. Make it a cooking competition or just enjoy sampling what everyone has to offer. Better yet: encourage folks to take home leftovers so you don’t have add eating bad food to your Stress List!

Politics at Parties

Given that this year has been rife with political strain, do your best to leave politics off the table when serving up good cheer! This can be challenging as some individuals have deep feelings or misgivings, so here are a few tips from Amy Cuddy, an American social psychologist, author and Harvard lecturer, on how to politely handle a political conversation.

• Set respectful and polite boundaries. It’s ok to say “I don’t talk politics during the Holidays”.
• If they persist on the political path; try to be objective and hear the other person out without interrupting or allowing your own views to color your opinion of their personality.
• There are ways and ways to vocalize your opinion but the “I’m right and you’re wrong” attitude only invites arguments. Even if you violently disagree with another person’s viewpoint – allow them the space to have their opinion. You can politely mention that you may “agree to disagree for personal reasons” or ask them to explain why they feel a certain way.
• Avoid politics and alcohol! Alcohol blurs judgement and you may find yourself regretting your words the following day.

Take Time for You

In our mad rush to take care of everyone else, it’s very easy to forget about ourselves. Make sure you schedule some time to decompress. Whether it be reading a book, watching your favorite shows, getting a massage, playing your favorite game, or just taking a walk – ‘You’ time is very important to your Holiday Survival Kit to manage stress. Make this ‘You’ time at least half a day; any less will just fly by as quick as Santa’s sleigh.

This is the Season of Light, the Season of Joy, and a great time of year if your perspective is right. Regardless, I may still lobby for another month between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Be of good cheer, wish everyone the best, and I hope these Holiday Survival Kit tips help you enjoy the end of the year!

Please feel free to share any ideas you have or have tried that work for you below!

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Happy Holidays from UPPSolutions, LLC – wishing you and yours the very best of the Holiday Season!