Taking the Hurrying out of the Holidays

Holidays can be stressful! All the hustle and bustle. Travel. Family Obligations. It's easy to get overwhelmed in the shoulds and musts of the season and end up back to work in January feeling like you need a holiday from your holiday! But the holiday season can be restful. Here are my top 5 tips for creating some calm this holiday season.

#5 Do Less

Seriously. Just say no to some things. Set aside days where you have nothing planned. This creates space to sit and have a cup of hot chocolate or go for a skate and enjoy the season in an unstructured way.  

#4 Focus On Things You Enjoy

What gives you energy? I don't know many people who enjoy cooking AND baking AND home decorating AND letter writing AND iceskating AND whatever other holiday activity it seems like everyone on Pinterest is doing. Pick the activities that give you joy and energy and let the ones you don't enjoy go. 

#3 Set Your Boundaries

How much of your holiday time is spent pleasing other people? It's wonderful to spend time with loved ones but when time and traditions become dreaded obligations its time to reconsider what's best for you and set appropriate boundaries. 

#2 Keep Up Your Routine

What do you do on a day to day or week to week basis that keeps you on track? It might be meal planning, going to the gym, or just pouring yourself a cup of tea and taking a few minutes to yourself in the evening. Often the holidays have so much going on our routines fall by the wayside in times when we need them the most!

#1 Know What YOU Need

Take some time to reflect. What was good about last year? What wasn't so great? Think about your favourite holidays and ask yourself WHY they were enjoyable.

Feeling like this is easier said than done? Come on out to one of my live holiday workshops in Guelph and get some guidance working through the details. I'm hosting an Advent focused event at Dublin Street United Church and a secular holiday talk at Goodness Me. Did I mention they are free? Hope to see you there!

On Feeling Overwhelmed: The #1 way to know what you need to feel at peace again

This morning I felt a little off. I didn't sleep well last night and as I prepared to go to work I felt sad and tired, like I'd rather have a day in bed than head into work. It's been a busy few weeks for me. We ran 2 workshops the past 2 Tuesday evenings, I traveled for work over the past weekend, and in general had just put in more hours than usual. This week is looking like more of the same with extra work things booked into hours I usually use to take care of myself and my home. 

I took a breath and checked in with myself; I found I was feeling overwhelmed. Knowing I had some time booked off soon,  I checked my calendar and discovered I just had to keep this up until... Easter. My face fell and I wanted to cry. I knew I needed some space before then and so I made up my mind - I would take a day off. As soon as the thought of this came into my mind I felt more peaceful. 

I arrived at work, checked my schedule and booked off the next available day. I felt a weight lift. To me this is the radical self love I encourage in my work, and work to practice for myself. When you love what you do, it's hard to remember you can't spend all your waking hours working on it. Your mindbody needs rest, and when I didn't schedule enough of it in, my mindbody let me know. 

These messages from our bodies are gifts. What is your body telling you? How can you honour its needs today?

Love, Dr. Katie