Ask for help and 3. Eliminate stressors
2. Ask for help
Asking for help can be extremely difficult. But if you don't request assistance during the holidays you may find yourself at your wit 's end. If you think you need to do it all, think again. Acknowledge that support will ease your load and make things happen faster. Just becoming aware that you could use some assistance and getting comfortable asking for it can be the toughest part. But once you get over your inhibitions of seeking support, you'll find that folks really want to help you in your efforts to create a wonderful holiday season. Resist the temptation to go it alone or take on more than you can reasonably do. Draft a list of activities you want to commit to this season (nothing more) and write the names of the people you'd like to help out. Then start making calls.
3. Eliminate holiday stressors
You know what and who they are - the physical and emotional stressors that consume a lot of your holiday energy and space. This season, take a few minutes to think about the things that may be a source of stress and list them all. It will feel so good to get these worries out of your head and down on paper. Once you've completed this "stressor inventory" make a conscious effort to eliminate each one. If you know cooking a traditional dinner for 25 is high on your list, don't commit to it this year. Either say no, ask another family member to host or prepare that seafood buffet you always wanted to experiment with. It is in your control to say "yes" to the things that fulfill you and make your holidays happy, and "no" to your "shoulds" and "have tos."
A joy-filled festive season awaits us all. Choose what you want your personal experience to be. With the wisdom and power to create stress-free holidays, tap into what you really want and give yourself permission to enjoy it. And if you are skeptical that no matter what you do, you'll still feel stressed out this season, remember that you can always go on strike.
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