I never quite got this post up yesterday. It was one of those insane days–you know the kind. I have so much to tell you about Notorious and the angry ham but I won’t bore you with that….yet.
Stress Less: The Homestretch
I vowed this year would be different. For once, I wouldn’t be the one hitting the wall, running around in last-minute hysterics, scrambling to get all the holiday stuff done. When I last reported my mid-term stress-less progress, I was gearing up for Thanksgiving dinner for 26, which, save for a couple of rude comments, went off without a hitch.
I conquered my previous failures…almost
- Organize recipes check
- Find something to wear to the Caveman’s office party check–Many of you requested pics. Epic fail on that front see below:
- Find a sitter check–Our sitter apparently had an amnesia flare-up and forgot to show. Thankfully a frantic, last minute phone call did the trick.
- Plan meals for the week: Fail–Yeah still not happening. I’m cooking, just not planning the way I’d like to. Ergo, way too many trips to Tarjay (we are blessed with the Super kind with full grocery store that even carries Kombucha. I often ponder the prospect of moving in).
Without boring you with more minutia, let’s just say the experiment was a success. I am indeed capable of being proactive rather than reactive, of not procrastinating, and of building what I hope will be permanent organizational habits. I said hope.
- Shopping is done.
- Wrapping is in progress.
- Cards are out.
- RSVP’s are done.
- Hostess/teacher gifts are taken care of.
- The house hasn’t exploded.
- My hair hasn’t fallen out. (Gray trumps out any day)
- Who am I?
So what’s the secret of the universe to less holiday stress?
Take your first opportunity to get things done.
- Start chipping away at shopping/cards/decorating etc. early.
- Clean up after yourself and encourage others to do the same.
- Stand over the recycling bin when you go through the mail and pitch what you don’t need immediately.
- Deal with invites/RSVP’s as soon as you get them.
- Stay on top of appointments, important dates, schedules.
- In a nutshell, just bite the bullet and do the crap you don’t enjoy doing. Get it out of the way. You’ll feel so much better.
Even if you’re chipping away at the tiniest things, you’re still making positive, forward progress. That feeling of flow and accomplishment is gratifying.
Simplify
- Choose one hostess gift and teacher gift and buy or make it in bulk.
- De-clutter and make charitable donations to Goodwill etc.
- Charity is great but I often feel bombarded by too many requests at this time of year. Pick a cause or two you are passionate about and don’t feel guilty if you can’t honor every single request.
- Make one or two kinds of cookie and customize.
Just say no
- No cookie exchange for me this year.
- I purposely volunteered at Halloween so I could opt out of the kids’ class parties this time around, guilt-free.
- Kids’ activities are cutback at this time of year and I’m carpooling more.
Finally, the ‘bookends’ of the Stress-Less Plan
- Sleep
- Exercise
These are non-negotiable for me. Everything about the holidays gets worked in around my sleep and my exercise. A cranky, over-tired Marcia is not fun for anyone.
- Rest/recovery
I’ve been taking just 15 minutes at the start of everyday. If I said I was meditating I’d be lying as my mind wanders way too much to qualify. But it’s a time of quiet contemplation, when I set my intention for the day.
There you have it. No big secret really. It’s a matter of setting the intention to be proactive and being mindful of what I’m doing. I achieved a much less stressful lead-in to the holidays than usual because it was my goal to do so. In previous years I’d be the one searching frantically for an open gas station on Christmas and buying out their gas cards. I’d be wrapping in the car or in the basement as guests were arriving. Believe it, this is a huge improvement for me.
Scale says:
Week 1: -1.4
Week 2: -1
Week 3: +1.4
Week 4: -0.6
Week 5: -0.8
Total: -2.4
I’m hardly lighting the world on fire with my weight loss but the scale IS moving in a positive direction, at a challenging time of year to say the least. Here’s to forward progress, however minimal!
I’m hardly lighting the world on fire with my weight loss but the scale IS moving in a positive direction, at a challenging time of year to say the least. Here’s to forward progress, however minimal!
How do you minimize holiday stress?
Have you done insane last minute shopping?
Did you enter the Planet Gear giveaway?
Blue Ridge Marathon Giveaway ends tonight!
