Whether you’re cheerfully singing carols while preparing for a Norman Rockwell worthy celebration or just trying to survive them, there’s no denying the holidays bring with them extra stress and challenges. Remember to HELP.
- Hope for the best. Instead of trying to think of everything that could go wrong, think of how great everything will be. Instead of focusing on the loved ones that won’t be joining you this year, reflect on the wonderful memories you have with them or on the wonderful memories you are creating with others.
- Embrace your emotions and exercise. We tend to feel like there’s an unwritten rule that we should be happy during the holidays. The truth is we don’t have to be. If you are one of the fortunate individuals who is happy, that’s wonderful! If you are not, then embrace where you are. It’s okay to be sad, mad, stressed, exhausted, confused, etc. No matter what emotion you are experiencing, embrace it and exercise. Whether you go for a walk, spend some time at the gym, or try out P90X, exercising can help boost your energy level and is good for your overall wellbeing.
- Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. Instead of yelling at yourself, reward yourself. Schedule some “me” time, such as a massage or time to read that book you’ve been meaning to read. Block out time to just breathe and do something for you. Especially if it feels like you don’t have enough time.
- Plan purposefully. Take a moment to plan what you’re going to do and how. If you’re moving forward with the Rockwell festivities, then maybe you should send out invitations, or you may want to take some time to meet new people that you can invite to your gathering. Once you’ve considered the who, what, where, and when, you can move on to the how and so on. Then again, maybe you want to avoid the pomp and circumstance and just skip ahead to life after the holidays. If that’s the case, then do it. You could schedule a special project on the day of the holiday. Maybe there’s a room you want to remodel. You’ll want to consider what supplies you have or need. If you need more supplies then you’ll have to figure out where, when, and how you want to acquire them and so on. On the other hand, maybe you just want to take it easy. Perhaps you’d enjoy a walk. If so, you may want to consider the weather and a destination. Your destination could be a year-round garden or a stroll through the woods. Whatever the case may be, take a moment to plan for it and don’t forget to include your “me” time.
The holidays will be here and gone before we know it. You are an amazing individual! You deserve to HELP. Hope for the best. Embrace your emotions and exercise. Love yourself. Plan purposefully.
About the Author: Sunny Sorensen has over 5 years’ experience coordinating with EAPs and consultants to help employees and manager with disruptive event management. She currently serves as Team Leader for the R3 Continuum Response Center.
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