Now What?!

The holiday season is in full swing and, ready or not, 2019 is rounding to an end. Whether you celebrate a religious holiday, family tradition or just have your office come to a halt, this time of year makes us all a little crazy.

Although my family celebrates Christmas, I feel confident that the stress this time of year brings me transcends any specific holiday. I remember so distinctly the excitement I felt when I was younger and would walk into a store to decorations and festive music. It never seemed odd to me that it started in October!

Getting a couple weeks off from school seemed like a lifetime away from homework and getting up early. My only responsibility was to be thankful when I received a gift and to not catch the mantle on fire with the garland and a lit candle (this may or may not have happened – twice). The older I get, I become more and more ‘Team Grinch.’ If you read the book or watch the movie(s) you realize the absurdity surrounding the need for extravagance and topping the neighbors is what bothers Mr. Grinch. We spend and spend to get everyone on our list presents that might be enjoyed or might not be. We put time and effort into Christmas cards to send them out to folks who might display and enjoy them, but they may get recycled the same day.

In theory, I love the idea of spending time with family or making my home festive and warm for visitors. In my reality, this time of year amplifies an already full to-do list and budget.

Admittedly, a lot of the pressure and extra tasks are self-imposed. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or just wrapping up your year (and decade) adults feel pressure. Did I take full advantage of this holiday season? Did I make it special enough for the people around me? Were there goals that I need to accomplish within the next couple of weeks before the new year?

I am challenging myself to lighten the load a little – to focus on what is important (genuinely important) and doable and go from there. I welcome anyone to take the challenge with me:

Cut yourself some slack! You do what you can with the time and resources at your disposal. Let’s not set unrealistic expectations that will either make you insane or set you up for failure.

If your stress isn’t holiday-related but rather end-of-year work pressure, remember that your expectations need to taper a little. Most workplaces become less productive around the middle of November until the middle of the first week of January; proceed accordingly.

When in doubt, go the sentimental route. I love to reflect on the year when thinking of something special for someone important in my life. Even if it’s a framed picture from a cool memory of the past year.

Try not to break the bank just for spending sake. My mom was the queen of making a small gift exciting by sending us on a scavenger hunt to stretch out the opening process. It is a tradition I have carried on for my own son and he loves it! You don’t have to spend a lot to make the hidden gift special and it is most likely the part of ‘opening’ that they will remember the most.

When you gather with friends or family for your chosen celebration, try to spend some time unplugged time enjoying who you have in front of you. Laugh and reminisce about Christmas memories with each other.

One of my favorite Christmas memories is from when my son (now 17) was in preschool. I was on the fifth item on my to-do list in the middle of December which was the post office to get stamps for my Christmas cards. I can look back at this moment fondly now but at the time it was cold sweat-inducing. When he was 4-5 years old he had an imaginary friend named “ Baby Parker,” which is not only his name but was also the name of the new baby across the street. In a packed post office, he froze from his patented constant movement and exclaimed, wide-eyed, “Mommy!! We left Baby Parker in the car! ” I immediately looked up to find a hush falling over the crowd and judging eyes upon me. I faked a smile and nodded reassuringly to these strangers, “It’s his imaginary friend.” I then guided my son by the shoulders to continue in the moving line.

Although we feel the crunch of . . .
12 Christmas parties
11 Holiday music stations
10 Trips to Target
9 Rolls of wrapping paper
8 Baking recipes
7 Types of cocktails
6 Festive outfits
5 Friend Potlucks
4 Secret Santas
3 Trips to Grandpas
2 Boxes of cards to mail out

and

1 Elf on a Shelf

I hope you are able to relax and enjoy a little slice of your remaining December, and let’s regroup in 2020.