We are continuing our journey to a Stress Free Holiday Season.
So far you have created a vision of what you would like your holiday to look like and you have listed all the activities you are currently doing. Today I want you to decide how much you actually enjoy doing these activities. We are going to make the connection between what you WANT to do and what you ARE doing!
Now, look at the list of everything you actually do during the holiday season. What were some of the tasks you completed last year? What are some things you are planning to do this year?
Examine each activity and decide
- “Is this an activity I LOVE to do?” An activity that was on the very first list you created – one that is right in line with how you envision your perfect holiday. If so, write it at the top in the “LOVE” section.
- “Is this an activity that I do, but don’t really have an attachment to it one way or the other?” Maybe your family loves the activity (cutting down a live tree), or you’ve gone to the neighbor’s cookie exchange every year and really you could take it or leave it. Write these activities in the middle “OK” section.
- “Is this an activity that I dread doing?” Maybe you hate to bake – yet you give everyone homemade bread as gifts. Maybe the idea of hosting everyone at your house one more time is just causing you to wake up at night in a cold sweat. Write these activities on the bottom, in the “YUCK” section.
Finally – take a look at the activities in the middle and bottom sections. Start to think about WHY you do them. Do you want to continue doing them? Is the value of doing these activities greater than the fall-out of not doing them?
For example, recently one of the participants at a workshop I was leading realized that she doesn’t like the hassle that surrounds having a live tree. Upon further reflection, she realized that she continued to bring a live tree into her home each year because of the childhood memories it evoked. Now, with this new awareness she can decide if she wants to continue to cut down, haul, and set up a live tree – or if there is another way to honor those memories.
What new awareness can you create? Are all your activities in the top section of the paper? Have you already created the holidays you love – and now you just need to figure out how to be more effective? You certainly want to stop by, as the next set of posts will examine how to become more efficient during the holidays.
Share your “ah-ha” moments with us! What activities do you not LOVE, but do anyway? What activities do you LOVE, but find you never have time to do?
I love the idea of delegating the activities we don’t like. Since decorating the house puts me in a state of stress (because I just don’t like decorating at all), I give that job to my daughter when she is home. She is very creative and enjoys it.
I also think step 2 is so important and really helps me to not only face what needs to be done but also to realize the list isn’t so bad after all.
Dayna –
Yep – delegating is a great idea . . . and one of the next steps towards reducing holiday stress (check back next week for that post!). My step-daughter was over for a visit this weekend and I had her decorate my window boxes for fall. She loves it – I’m not as big of a fan – so it worked out well! :)
Lisa
Hey Lisa!
Love your tips on how to deal with the holidays and being stress free. Will implement them this year. Thank you for sharing. :-)
Thanks Nate for stopping by! Still 4 more posts to come . . . keep checking back for more!
Lisa
I agree, we should prioritize the things we love, especially with the hols!
Michelle –
YES!
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
Hope you are having an awesome day!
I find the holidays to be stressful as well your advice is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
-Jason
Hi Jason –
Be sure to stop back and tell us all about any changes you make so your holidays are less stressful!
Lisa
You are so right, Lisa! I used to decorate my house (top to bottom) for the holidays. I’d bake what seemed like hundreds of batches of cookies (and eat many of them myself). I really thought I loved doing all this. I did it because I wanted my kids to have a memorable holiday. But once they grew older and moved out of the house, I still tried to maintain that holiday wonderland in our home. A few years ago, I found I’d lost a lot of my joy regarding the holidays. It was all too much. I reduced my decorating to one day (instead of four); reduced my cookies to a couple batches; and I found I enjoyed the holidays so much more. I want to thank you for the awesome reminder that less can be more. Happy (early) holidays to you.
Linda –
Thank you! I am thrilled that you found a way to make the holidays work for you! Less IS more in so many areas of our lives. Happy (early) holidays to you also!
Lisa
This year I am finding it very stressful – we are going on vacation immediately after Christmas & I have two young boys who keep talking about Santa…. I look forward to reading your tips! Thanks for sharing!
Dizee –
Thanks for stopping by! The biggest tip I can give you – DECIDE NOW what you want to do . . . and then stick to your list. Often we keep adding more and more and more )and with a vacation, young kids, and Christmas you have plenty on your plate. Decide the most important activities – and plan for those. Don’t try to do everything!
Lisa
loved ur tips lisa…and loved ur blog as well! Following u now on fb!
Rachna –
Thrilled to have you join the community!
Lisa
I’m back again Lisa. And the Christmas tree piece jumped out at me this week (on BlogFormatting). I get a live tree because I love the smell, but I hate the work of keeping one from drying before the holidays are over. I also hate putting on the lights on the tree.
One thing you mentioned in the video–hated hauling the boxes. I agree and I’m somewhat fortunate in that category because my husband loves to be helpful and if I ask him to move boxes, he jumps up and does it right away.
I like the third video. I’m going to make this list Examine the activity, evaluate the activity and decide. Love your advice!
Linda –
Thanks so much for stopping by again! The “live tree” solution the workshop participant decided on was to use an artificial tree but decorate her mantle and stairway bannister with pine roping. This way she gets the smell (also a big deal for her) without the hassle of the tree!
I also am fortunate . . . my husband carries the boxes of decorations up for me! For years I struggled – it turns out, I just needed to ask!
Lisa
Love this Lisa. I do this, although it’s on my head and not on paper. You know what? If it stresses me out, I don’t want it in my life. :)
Now that I’m “grown up”, I don’t celebrate the holidays unless I’m at someone else’s party. And I like it that way. I don’t buy a tree and I don’t put up decorations. But I’m happy with that.
Keri –
I’m thrilled that you have found your “sweet spot” when it comes to celebrating holidays . . . and you’ve realized “if it stresses you out, you don’t want it”. Awesome!
Lisa
Great principle of the 3 section list. Can imagine it works for other areas of life too. I’ll try it out. I know I spend a lot of energy doing cwertain things because I’ve always done them. Time to stop and think!
Kerry –
Absolutely – looking at your activities and deciding which you love to do, like to do, and don’t like to do is a valuable activity in many areas! Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa
Great advice, Lisa! I, too, find the holidays stressful and your suggestion of delegating is priceless. Thank you!
Robin –
Thanks!!!! I appreciate you comment and enthusiasm.
Lisa
[…] Stress Free Holidays – Step 3 Decide 9:38 AM […]
[…] Week #3 – Categorize these activities – how much do you enjoy doing them? […]