De-stress This Holiday by Making a List, Checking it Twice

What if this year you chose calm over chaos? The holiday season can be filled with joy for some… and stress for others. Many of us feel a bit of both. I am one of those people who begin listening to Christmas music as early as the end of October, and my whole house is decorated by Thanksgiving. I love the lights, trinkets, and magic of the holidays!

But even with all the sparkle, the holidays can bring stress and frustration. What do you buy Aunt Rose this year when she doesn’t want a gift? Should you sit your in-laws near your parents at the Thanksgiving table? Will the new kitten climb the Christmas tree (a personal concern of mine)?

There are presents to buy and wrap in time, dinners to plan, cookies to bake, and party invites to send out. The most joyous season can easily become overwhelming and exhausting. Before we know it, we begin looking forward to January!

Getting through the holidays doesn’t have to be wrought with anxiety and trepidation. You can enter the season filled with hope and excitement for a wonderful time spent with family and friends. It just takes some planning and forethought to get there. We think the more we cram into the holidays, the more fun we will have, but that is not always the case.

Just like Santa, making a list and checking it twice can be the magical key to keeping your holiday spirit intact without losing your mind in the process. Try this: Create two lists. The first primary list should contain the important tasks that truly matter and must be completed prior to the holiday, along with due dates. Tasks such as travel reservations, shopping for gifts within a budget, and setting up the guest room for out-of-town family members would be on here.

Setting due dates may seem a little silly for holiday planning, but it just might be what you need to keep you on track. You could continue to work from the list or transfer due dates to a digital or paper calendar. Just make sure your list is in sight, and you check it regularly – more than Santa’s twice. As priorities change, adjust your list and schedule. Life rarely happens as we plan, so preparing to be flexible is a good idea and reduces the stress of commitment to your list.

The second list contains the “nice” to-do tasks and activities. These are the things that would be nice to do but are not critical for you or the family to have a lovely holiday season. Examples of “nice” to do tasks could be making homemade gifts for your coworkers, baking five dozen cookies for the neighborhood cookie exchange, or finishing that scarf you have been knitting for two years. If time permits, you could slip some of these tasks into your schedule, but make sure you’re getting in enough rest time, too. Take the time you need to remember the things about the holiday season that fill you with joy and feel magical.

Why not try a different approach to the holiday season this year? Don’t just try to get through the holidays, but celebrate the beauty of the season. Sometimes less is more, and in the case of holiday tasks, I wholeheartedly agree!

You don’t have to go it alone this holiday season. Coaching can be a great way to ease stress and help you thrive – not just survive – the holidays. Consider coaching for yourself as a little gift that includes support, perspective, and space to breathe. I think Santa would approve. Let’s make this a peaceful and calm holiday season!

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