The Holidays
If you have been following my blog, you may have noticed, well, nothing for the last couple weeks. For that I am sorry. December is extremely busy for me and I haven't been near the computer other than checking the spelling of a friend or family member's name on Facebook because I blanked while writing their card. In our family there are 3 birthdays in a span of 3 days in December so when you add birthday parties to the countless Christmas parties and Holiday celebrations, the baking, home crafted gifts, shopping, wrapping and decorating, somewhere, something is going to be pushed aside.
All of that brings me to my reason for writing today. I want to give you some ideas to survive the Holiday season somewhat unscathed.
First of all, make lists. When you have 25 tasks rolling around in your head it is so easy to stress over finishing them. When you make a list you can prioritize, start at the first one and work your way down. Checking things off as you go also gives you a very good sense of accomplishment and eases some of the stress. I make lists for everything. Day to day tasks, weekly tasks, gifts to buy, groceries, baking to do and most importantly, goals. The last one is on a large white board in my den and checking off those goals feels so good it becomes addicting.
Secondly, let stuff go, prioritize. Is it really that important that the ribbon that you wrapped around the railing last year gets done this year too? Does your family really care if all the napkin rings and cutlery on the table match or will they notice? Stop and ask yourself if what you are stressing over is really important or is it just your own neurosis. Focus instead on the things that will affect others. Spend time with your friends and family and take time to really appreciate each and every one of them. Give from your heart, those are the gifts that really count.
Third, and this one is very important, keep exercising. If you work out regularly I'm sure you know that when you stop for awhile, everything starts to go badly. You feel awful and stress gets to you much more easily. It doesn't have to be much but a bit every day. Work it into your family time even. My husband and I make a point of taking the boys tobogganing and skating over the holidays. One of my favourite things to do is get up early and get to the hill before anyone else is there. We slide until the sun is coming up, other people are starting to arrive at the hill and our legs feel like noodles from climbing over and over while trying not to slide back down more than our last step took us up. We have snowball fights, crash, laugh until we cry, make snow angels (my 12 yr old makes snow devils) and build memories that will last forever.
Fourth, keep eating right. I have been eating a very clean diet for about 2 years now and since October I have been eating a very clean Paleo diet. If I eat unhealthy food, I feel incredibly ill. When you eat healthy your body functions more efficiently so you have more energy and feel awesome. I know this is difficult during the holiday season but it is possible. At parties, you don't have to try some of everything. Look for lean protein and fill up on veggies. Make some healthy treats and take them to add to the spread. That way you know that there are some good options for you to eat. I fill up on the veggies first and then allow only a couple other things as treats. Another good trick is to eat a small meal before you go. Have some lean protein and carbs in the form of veggies (not starch) and those rich holiday desserts will be easier to resist.
Fifth and last, slow down and take time to appreciate the season for what it is. Picture this, you have been madly rushing all day to clean and decorate your house before the in-laws get there, your feet hurt from standing at the kitchen counter for hours, baking goodies and cooking casseroles in advance. It is midnight and your family is all soundly sleeping, oblivious to your hard work and you just want to go to bed but the tree needs to be watered because if the stand gets too empty and light, the giant tree that your husband had to have will fall over. You crouch down by the tree and try to find the one spot where the jug actually has room to tip without hitting a branch, can't find it, get on your knees and feel around with no luck and finally flat on your stomach you can see some of the openings between the branches and manage to get at least half of the jug to pour into the basin. As you slowly straighten up, joints cracking, muscles aching you start to wonder exactly what is so magical about the season. You stretch, looking up and see the beautiful shadows cast on the ceiling by the lights shining through the branches. Suddenly the stress melts away and memories of sneaking down the stairs on Christmas Eve as a child come flooding back and everything makes sense again. This season is about love and that is what counts.
Good luck, stay strong, keep fit and celebrate with loved ones. Happy Holidays!
All of that brings me to my reason for writing today. I want to give you some ideas to survive the Holiday season somewhat unscathed.
First of all, make lists. When you have 25 tasks rolling around in your head it is so easy to stress over finishing them. When you make a list you can prioritize, start at the first one and work your way down. Checking things off as you go also gives you a very good sense of accomplishment and eases some of the stress. I make lists for everything. Day to day tasks, weekly tasks, gifts to buy, groceries, baking to do and most importantly, goals. The last one is on a large white board in my den and checking off those goals feels so good it becomes addicting.
Secondly, let stuff go, prioritize. Is it really that important that the ribbon that you wrapped around the railing last year gets done this year too? Does your family really care if all the napkin rings and cutlery on the table match or will they notice? Stop and ask yourself if what you are stressing over is really important or is it just your own neurosis. Focus instead on the things that will affect others. Spend time with your friends and family and take time to really appreciate each and every one of them. Give from your heart, those are the gifts that really count.
Third, and this one is very important, keep exercising. If you work out regularly I'm sure you know that when you stop for awhile, everything starts to go badly. You feel awful and stress gets to you much more easily. It doesn't have to be much but a bit every day. Work it into your family time even. My husband and I make a point of taking the boys tobogganing and skating over the holidays. One of my favourite things to do is get up early and get to the hill before anyone else is there. We slide until the sun is coming up, other people are starting to arrive at the hill and our legs feel like noodles from climbing over and over while trying not to slide back down more than our last step took us up. We have snowball fights, crash, laugh until we cry, make snow angels (my 12 yr old makes snow devils) and build memories that will last forever.
Fourth, keep eating right. I have been eating a very clean diet for about 2 years now and since October I have been eating a very clean Paleo diet. If I eat unhealthy food, I feel incredibly ill. When you eat healthy your body functions more efficiently so you have more energy and feel awesome. I know this is difficult during the holiday season but it is possible. At parties, you don't have to try some of everything. Look for lean protein and fill up on veggies. Make some healthy treats and take them to add to the spread. That way you know that there are some good options for you to eat. I fill up on the veggies first and then allow only a couple other things as treats. Another good trick is to eat a small meal before you go. Have some lean protein and carbs in the form of veggies (not starch) and those rich holiday desserts will be easier to resist.
Fifth and last, slow down and take time to appreciate the season for what it is. Picture this, you have been madly rushing all day to clean and decorate your house before the in-laws get there, your feet hurt from standing at the kitchen counter for hours, baking goodies and cooking casseroles in advance. It is midnight and your family is all soundly sleeping, oblivious to your hard work and you just want to go to bed but the tree needs to be watered because if the stand gets too empty and light, the giant tree that your husband had to have will fall over. You crouch down by the tree and try to find the one spot where the jug actually has room to tip without hitting a branch, can't find it, get on your knees and feel around with no luck and finally flat on your stomach you can see some of the openings between the branches and manage to get at least half of the jug to pour into the basin. As you slowly straighten up, joints cracking, muscles aching you start to wonder exactly what is so magical about the season. You stretch, looking up and see the beautiful shadows cast on the ceiling by the lights shining through the branches. Suddenly the stress melts away and memories of sneaking down the stairs on Christmas Eve as a child come flooding back and everything makes sense again. This season is about love and that is what counts.
Good luck, stay strong, keep fit and celebrate with loved ones. Happy Holidays!
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