The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner, and while I feel the excitement and magic of the season in the air, I also feel a little bit of stress and overwhelm creeping up inside me. Then my mind starts racing with things I need to do.
You too? Read on, my friend. I’ve got an easy exercise to help you simplify your holidays while saying ‘no’ to holiday stress and overwhelm.
It’s easy to get lost in the gifts to buy, parties to attend, and all.the.food. during the holidays, but that’s not what’s most important. Family time and focusing on what matters most is.
So let’s start here with a little exercise that will help you feel in control and excited for the season ahead by making a list and checking it twice.
First, grab a piece of paper and make two columns.
In the first column write, “What do I want to feel less of this holiday season?”
You may want to feel less overwhelm, stress, busy, anxiety, frustration, like you have no time to get it all done. You may want to feel less financially stretched with all the gifts you “need” to buy. You may want to minimize the number of events and parties you attend, so you don’t feel stretched so thin.
In the second column write, “What do I want to feel more of this holiday season?”
Think of how you want to feel during the holidays – more peace, balance, or joy. Perhaps you want to be present with your loved ones and not rushing about or thinking of a million things you still need to do. Maybe you want more evenings cuddled with your kiddos under a blanket watching a movie. Write down everything that creates the ideal holiday season for you.
Now flip your paper over and write down every thing on your mind that you need to do and want to do. Brain dump it all out on this piece of paper. From gifts to buy, events to attend, food to make, etc.
Getting it all out where you can see it will help with the stress you feel trying to keep track of everything in your head, even if you’re overwhelmed looking at your mile long list.
Now comes the fun part. Put a star by the things you’re most excited about. These are the things that bring you closer to how you want to feel during the holidays.
Next, put a ‘x’ next to the things you don’t really need or want to do. Use this favorite phrase of mine if you’re having trouble deciding.
If it’s not a heck yes, it’s a heck no.
It really can be as simple as that. If it’s not bringing you closer to how you want your holidays to feel, it’s a no.
Look at the x’s again and see if there’s anything on that list you can get rid of right away. Simply cross it out. If it’s an event you don’t have the bandwidth to attend, gracefully decline and cross it out. Your list should be looking more doable already.
Now look for anything on that list that you can delegate or hire out. Get creative!
For example, last year I hired a neighbor girl to wrap our gifts. I paid her by the hour and had all the wrapping supplies on hand. She had every gift wrapped in less than 2 hours. Those two hours for me were well worth the little money I spent.
Your holiday list is likely looking much better than when you first started. Try going through it one more time to see if there’s anything else you don’t need to do. If it’s not a heck yes, it’s a no. And that’s ok.
Lastly, schedule anything left on your list that doesn’t already have a scheduled time such as planning an afternoon to shop for gifts or a time to get your groceries.
Getting everything out of your head onto a piece of paper and simplifying that list with a planned time to get it done, makes a huge difference in the overwhelm and stress you feel. You’ll have more time to do the things you want to do during the holidays while being present with the ones you love most. And that’s the best part of all.
