Keeping Your Christmas/Holiday Spark
“It’s the hap-happiest time of the year!”
croons Andy Williams over the audio system in the grocery store as you quickly collect the dinner fixings. You barely hear the rest as you fuss over the list, checking it twice to make sure you haven’t missed something crucial!
The extended family will be arriving over the next few days and you remember back to the fiasco of two years ago when things went … well … sideways? Then Covid hit and you couldn’t redeem yourself because no-one could go anywhere last year! So everything, everything has to be perfect this time! You know exactly what will be eaten at what time and on what day, the activities are planned for specific times of the day and on what days. People have asked what they can do but if things are to go the way they have to, then best to do it all yourself.
Need I go on? I think not!
Why put yourself through so much pressure? Why exactly are you having everyone to your place for several days? To feed them, and make sure they make it to their activities on time?
First of all, nothing will ever be perfect so give yourself some breathing room and grace!
Secondly, ask yourself a few key questions
What is the most important thing about this event that you want to have everyone together? What do you want to accomplish?
Knowing that everything won’t be perfect anyway, why not let everyone contribute? Why would you stop people from blessing everyone else with something they can “bring to the table” so-to-speak?
If the people are the important parts of the event then how will you be sure to spend time with each of them? Wouldn’t you think that spending time with each person would make them feel special and not just another person taking up space in your EVENT?
What do you need to do to be at your best during your event without compromising your health or your sanity? Perhaps a day to destress at a spa getting your nails done, getting a haircut, going to a movie?
Nothing will ever be perfect so give yourself some breathing room and grace!
Thirdly, here are a few tips on how to make things great:
Plan your meals with a checklist and determine who else can provide something on that list. If they haven’t asked you what they can bring, ask them if they’d like to contribute something, and give them a few things to choose from.
Write out a grocery list and check to see what you already have on hand. Cross off those things that you find at home.
Create a list of the length of time it will take to prepare and cook the items. Have any recipes printed, in order, and handy.
Shop in advance and prepare as much as you can ahead of time, storing as many of the ingredients together for each recipe in the freezer or refrigerator labelled with as much information as you need (meal, recipe name, time to prepare, etc).
Encourage people to help clean up. As the ancient proverb says, “Many hands make light work!” Do the clean up with a glass of your favourite cheer. Clean-up can be a time of intimacy with whomever is helping.
If possible, do all of your shopping ahead of time and donate to have a charity do the wrapping for you ~ it will save on purchasing gift wrap, ribbon, tags, gift bags, tissue paper and most of all your time and you’ll be giving to a great cause.
And finally, make sure you are not so rigid with your schedule that you can’t enjoy your company! You’ll avoid the inevitable crash at the end of your event since you’ll be focused on the people and not on the particulars of the event. Then it WILL be, “the hap-happiest time of the year!”
Just a little afterthought … start putting a bit of money aside in an envelope each pay earmarked for next Christmas/Holiday Time and make your purchases from that. Then there’s no January credit card bill to look forward to!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
I have coached and mentored individuals, and facilitated small groups for over 30 years. I am a strong proponent of walking the walk and talking the talk. When I know something works, I like to pass it on to others!
Join me in my newest workshop, Anxiety-Free, Harmonious Christmas/Holiday Time the week of December 10 through 16th, 2021 to help you beat that Christmas/holiday overwhelm to manage relationships, plan ahead and elicit help during these crazy winter months.
Go to heatherlynnecoaching.com/workshops for more information and to register for “December Workshop: Anxiety-Free, Harmonious Christmas/Holiday Time”
About Heather O ‘Reilly
I have coached and mentored individuals, and facilitated small groups for over 30 years. I am a strong proponent of walking the walk and talking the talk. When I know something works, I like to pass it on to others!
Join me and start your journey to spark meaningful change in your life. Discover new strategies and develop good habits by registering for our upcoming workshops at heatherlynnecoaching.com/workshops