‘Tis the Season. Here we go. The cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping, mailing, decorating, socializing, travelling, drinking, eating holiday season.
Tired yet? Exhausted by just the thought of all you need to do in the next 29 days? Does it feel stressful and tense inside of you when you start thinking about it?
I’d like you to pause.
Here’s the thing. If you are here on my site, you probably relate to the “Has it all together” part of the tagline. If that is the case, I want to point something out.
And pardon me for being a bit crass, but I want you to remember this:
You know how to get shit done.
Am I wrong? If you have it together (even just on the outside) by definition you are handling the craziness of your life. And it is crazy, but you manage. By most people’s assessment you thrive. While this may not be the whole story, at this time of year we can (and should) use our natural talents to our advantage.
Here is what I would like to suggest. Let’s leave the emotions “overwhelmed, stressed and put out” at the door. Let’s not even let them in this year. How you ask?
I repeat—you know how to get shit done.
Has your tree ever gone untrimmed? Have the presents ever not gotten bought, wrapped and mailed? Has any guest ever gone hungry? Has any child not gotten his special “had to have” toy of the year? Have there ever not been enough cookies? Have you ever forgotten a teacher’s gift? Have you ever not gotten it all done?
I didn’t think so.
So when you start to stress. When you start to feel pulled in too many directions. When your blood pressure starts to rise.
Stop. Breathe.
Remind yourself that it will get done. It always does. Remind yourself that if you approach it with the knowledge that you can handle it, then guess what? It might even be, dare I say it? Fun. Enjoyable. A ‘tis the Season to be happy.
Let’s put the joy back into the season. Let’s trust ourselves that everything will get done and that we can actually enjoy the process if we allow it. Holiday overwhelm is self inflicted and for this one—we got it. No need to torture ourselves.
What do you think? Will you change your mind set? Will you let yourself enjoy while you get everything done the way you always do? Please leave your comments below.
Court says
November 26, 2013 at 10:12 pmYes, you are right. When I feel stressed, it is because I am feeling pulled in too many directions simultaneously. I have often applauded myself for being able to multi-task, but I am growing to learn that I am more effective and more at peace when I only focus on one thing at a time. It can become crazy during the holidays, but it is a good reminder to stay at peace and enjoy each thing, one at a time and fully. Thanks for this peaceful reminder!
Melissa Burkheimer says
November 26, 2013 at 11:50 pmI swear you wrote this post exactly for me! 🙂 My son’s birthday party this weekend and every year I do something crazy like try to make fancy cupcakes (when clearly I wasn’t meant to do that). Once again, no one cared about my crappy looking frosting and the party went fine. I’m breathing this year. I promise. xo
Sarah McKenna says
November 27, 2013 at 12:52 amYES this is me! Yes it does get done and whats done is done and that’s it. But I have to admit when I do try to relax and tell myself all of the above. But the panic creeps out and hits me with “ah ha now you’ve relaxed it’s not getting done!”
Desiree East says
November 27, 2013 at 2:06 amAh, yes…the Holidays could be overwhelming, indeed. I just spent this last weekend prepping for Thanksgiving, and I could feel the exhaustion starting to creep in. I decided to take today completely off, and so glad I did, and equally GRATEFUL that I’m able to do that, being self-employed. It’s easier to get burnt out than it is to say, NO, but when it comes down to it, self-care is the most important thing you could do for yourself AND your family. 🙂 Thank you for the reminder, Lorna!
Shana LaFore says
November 27, 2013 at 10:50 pmI can SO relate. Yup, always get it done, nope don’t stop to breath nearly enough. I’m making it a daily practice. Thank you for the reminder. Well said!
Silvia says
November 30, 2013 at 2:51 pmLorna, this is so true. If we can stop for a moment and remember that we always get it done, it takes the panic away. It’s crazy really that even after getting it done every day for years- so by now we can probably say thousands of times – that we still question our ability! What do we have to do to prove ourselves to ourselves?
I remember when I first stated my restaurant and I had no idea how to get it done – how do you serve a packed dining room full of people? The thing that got me through was this…I kept reminding myself that anytime I had anything to do with food…It was a success. It was that simple! Over and over again it was my mantra. Not only did it get me through the night but it became a self fulfilling prophecy.
Ursula-the crafting gypsy says
December 2, 2013 at 10:13 pmHad to smile – I just wrote about how stressful the holiday season can be http://ursulamarkgraf.com/liveyourlife/sunday-whispers-advent
I did change my mindset – and am working each year again on it. Because even if all those things that you wrote about above would not happen – even if I would not get all those things done – it would still be Christmas! Right? Christmas is not all the presents, the decorations, the cookies – to me it is something different. And even if – worst case scenario – there were no cookies, no presents, no decorations – there still would be Christmas. This is what I try to remember – I also forget from time to time 😉 – whenever I start to stress over holiday stuff.