Take Time to Enjoy Christmas by Doing Less and Living More

It seems that the Holiday Season takes on a life of its own as the year winds down. Far too often we find ourselves hurrying to finish shopping for a special gift (rather than simply being with the person for whom it is intended). We struggle to find the time to do everything we need done and to buy everything we want (not need) to buy. Unless we are careful we can find ourselves working twice as hard in what little time we have left before the year ends to accomplish the lofty goals we set at for ourselves last January (often carrying a load of guilt on our shoulders along with the fifteen pounds we planned to lose). Perhaps slowing down, taking a deep breath, and exhibiting a dose of “Holiday tolerance” would help us all make it through this busy time of year.

When we become so busy accomplishing and addressing the “duties” of the Holidays we lose out on the restful time we could be spending with family and friends. We tend to get so busy that we forget to take care of ourselves during the “downtime” from work - often thinking too much about what needs to be done that we have no time to enjoy people (places or things) that might add to the season. Perhaps life would be better for us (and those around us) if we did a few relatively simple things to keep our lives in order:

1)            Exercise regularly. Take the time for a regular period of physical activity – whether it is walking, running, or being involved with a sporting activity (as a participant rather than sitting on the couch and watching OTHERS play) – as often as possible. An hour a day for even 3 – 4 days per week will make you feel better about yourself – providing both the energy and confidence needed to take on the additional projects we typically assume this time of year AND the ones we promise ourselves will be accomplished during the coming year. 

2)            Take time to focus your thoughts regularly. Begin each day with a time of reflective organization, “escape” and recharge during the day as needed to make sure you are on track to accomplish what needs doing then end the day by summarizing and re-prioritizing. Bring purpose and “intentionality” to your actions by keeping your life in order to avoid wasting energy that could be better invested in meeting you own goals and expectations. 

3)             Learn to say “NO” when appropriate. Recognize your internal limitations and learn to delay, re-direct, or reassign activities as necessary in order to maintain your sanity. We should never simply ignore an issue or project to “make it go away.”  Accepting numerous assignments or tasks, however, when you know that they will not be accomplished establishes false expectations and can contribute to a sense of personal failure (as well as disappointment from those expecting results). Actively saying NO, however, is not an act of neglect. When one considers the alternatives, minimizes the risks, and accepts the ramifications, saying NO may be one of the healthiest things you can do. 

4)              Identify an “accountability partner” with whom to share your goals and aspirations. Too often we promise ourselves something only to find that we allow ourselves to become too busy to accomplish it. We make excuses to ourselves saying that what we are doing INSTEAD of what we had intended to do is more important and critical – but we often simply lose sight of where we want to be and have nobody we trust to validate our reality. Something else can ALWAYS be more important (if we allow it) but knowing what we want and knowing who will hold us to that path can minimize our excuses and maximize our successes. 

5)             Immerse yourself in moments that take your breath away rather than focusing on the breaths you take each moment. Take time to make time – for yourself, for others around you, for those that depend upon you and for those that may not yet know how much you could mean to them. The moments we spend HELPING others rather than ourselves should be cherished as it is those times that truly make a difference in the world around us. 

Celebrate the season by embracing the thoughts behind a Holiday wish rather than being offended by the way in which it was expressed. The words on a card become but whispers in a noisy room when one considers the message of warmth, friendship, or appreciation they are meant to convey. 

We should always worry less about the “little stuff” that might get under our skin. Particularly during this hectic time of year, however, many of the things that make us angry are insignificant in the big picture. How much difference does it really make if someone is driving 50 mph instead of 55 mph in front of us? How much extra time is the person having fifteen items in the twelve-item express checkout really stealing from your day? If you remember that “fast food” really means it does not take long to eat it rather than it does not take long to make it, life will be far less stressed. Make a resolution this coming year to invest your time in managing the big things in life rather than allowing yourself to be managed by the little things. Remember, though, when establishing your resolutions that every "finished" thought or project begins with an idea...each decorated tree had to start as but a bare set of branches.  Resolutions begin as seeds which germinate into reality if nurtured, monitored and cared for. You will be amazed how much of a difference simply focusing on those things that are significant in life can have in maintaining your sense of humanity throughout both the Holidays and the rest of the year.