Five Holiday Hints

When I was a kid, late fall was the time for raking leaves and jumping with abandon into the sweet-smelling pile. The Sears Christmas Wish Book wasn’t due for another couple of weeks, and we didn’t have TV (yes, I AM that old), so there were a few days’ respite before the “Holiday Hungries” were to begin.

That isn’t so now: The Holiday Hungries start whetting their appetite before Labor Day, when plastic Santas and fake greens show up on Wal*Mart shelves.

Some folks love it. Others find the holidays a pain. Given the culture in which we live— and if you “do” the holidays at all (for all sorts of reasons, many people in our diverse culture do NOT)—how can we use the CULTURE to honor our values, rather than let the holiday pressures leave us feeling flayed? Here are five Holiday Helper tips: use them to jumpstart your own thinking before the Holiday Hungries take hold of your days.

(1) Most people gain five pounds over the holiday season. Diet NOW; avoid the January rush. Seriously, my partner and I are devoting November to losing five pounds, which means we’ll enter The Season feeling good (there’s nothing more virtuous than a successful dieter!) and with our eating habits we’ll feel at least somewhat under control.

(2) Give till it stops hurting, not by buying more and putting your credit cards over the top, but by thinking about what you really want to give, and to WHOM. Is Aunt Susie on your gift list because you really want to say “I care,” or because her name has always been there? And what does Aunt Susie really need or want anyway? Do yourself a favor and take that gift list seriously.

Think with your heart, not your wallet.

Take time NOW to figure out something simple that will warm your gift recipient’s heart, and your own.

(3) During the 17 years I worked as a parish minister, the only way my family got to have its own holiday was by doing our own holiday preparations early (i.e,. have most of our decorating, gifts, food-planning done by the first week of December). This put clear boundaries around what was possible, and has resulted in a scaling down that has made the holidays a delight. Now that I’m working as a Life Coach, the idea isn’t necessary—but it’s a great one all the same. Get done EARLY and use the season itself to ENJOY. And if the task seems monumental . . .

(4) Look at your “to do” list. If it seems like a huge job, it probably is. Stop. Think: WHAT IS THE ESSENCE of what you’re trying to convey with this particular task? How can you get THAT SAME ESSENCE with a whole lot less work? And if you’re doing most of the holiday preparations for your family or friends: what’s in it for you?

(5) Maybe you really do enjoy it, whether it’s making cookies or stuffing a turkey. But, maybe you’re doing it because it’s an old SHOULD? Give yourself a Holiday Gift this season: toss out those SHOULDS and let yourself feel the blessing of real enjoyment. YES, you CAN . . . I promise.

Happy Holidays, my friends.