Feeling the stress and overwhelm of the season? There is hope in the holiday madness…
Regardless of whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Winter Solstice, Chinese New Year, none of the above, or something else entirely, there is a shared pressure parents face to make this time of year feel special, magical, and meaningful for our families.
Add to that pressure the school, work, and extracurricular obligations that pile on towards the end of the year, and it can feel impossible to come out on the other side feeling anything other than exhausted and disappointed.
But there’s hope. Often with just an adjustment to the lens we use to view this season, we have an opportunity to turn what would otherwise become holiday madness into something meaningful.
Don’t Allow Tradition to Become the Enemy of Happiness
Just because you’ve always done something doesn’t mean you have to continue to do it, especially if it is no longer ‘sparking joy’ in your household or with your family. Now is a great time to re-evaluate the things to stop/start doing. Buying a live Christmas tree got too expensive? Get a fake one and be done with it. Tired of spending 5 hours in the car to go see Grandma for the extended family feast? Invite Grandma to come to you over school break and spend that extra time dusting baseboards (just kidding, unless that’s your thing!).
Give Back
It’s been scientifically proven that giving your time, talents, and resources away to others makes us happier. In a weird twist of human nature, thinking about and serving others causes us to focus less on ourselves and cultivates gratitude. The good news is that there is no shortage of worthy causes to support in our communities this season. And get your kids involved! Find a family-friendly way to volunteer together and/or get them involved with your charitable giving.
Flexibility Is Key
If there was a silver lining to the past few years of covid-era holidays, it was that we were forced (sometimes painfully) to become flexible. Events get canceled, the weather doesn’t cooperate, people get sick, and the list of things that can go wrong (and will) goes on … The more flexible you can be with people and events, the happier everyone will be over the course of the season.
Practice Saying No
This season has become defined by the overwhelming opportunities of things to do, places to be, and money to spend. But you cannot be all things to all people. There is a finite amount of time and resources you have available this season. Practice saying, “no, thanks” to the neighborhood cookie swap that you don’t really have time for. Practice saying, “that’s such a good cause, but not today” to the cash register roundups, red kettles outside every retailer, and other on-the-spot charitable fundraisers, and instead donate your money intentionally to the causes you really care about.
Make Life Easier
Is there a shortcut, hack, or other workaround to make your life easier this season? Take it! It won’t destroy your family’s holiday spirit to buy premade dough for making cookies, throw an oversized gift into a bag instead of figuring out how to wrap it with paper, or send an e-card instead of hand-addressing envelopes. (I’ve developed a few myself.)
And Remember the WHY
Whatever faith or practice your family observes, don’t let the noise of the season distract you from what is important. Remember WHY your family celebrates this season, and everything else will fall into place.
