Getting Through the Holidays without Losing Your Mind
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the upcoming holidays.
What do you envision?
A warm, inviting fireplace to relax by? Sugarplums and toy soldiers?
Or Clark Griswold’s extended family invading your home?
If you imagined anything like the last scenario, today’s post is for you. We know how crazy the holiday season can get, so we assembled this list of tips to get through the holidays without losing your mind – and maybe even enjoy them!
Learn from last year. What did you love about the holidays – and what drove you nuts? Make a list of what you’d really like to get out of this season, as well as a list of things you’d like to do differently. Refer to it as you make your lists and plans.
Make organization your best friend. If you have a smartphone, you already have a great tool for making shopping lists, scheduling events, noting deadlines, scheduling automatic reminders and, yes – planning down time for yourself. The sooner (and more thoroughly) you plan for the holidays, the easier they’ll be to manage.
Enjoy the now. If the rush of the holidays typically scatters your thoughts and attention, train yourself to be in the moment:
- Close your eyes and breathe deeply, from your diaphragm, when you feel stressed.
- Take breaks each day for quiet meditation and reflection (even a few 5-minute sessions work wonders).
- Stop worrying about what you need to do next – and enjoy what you’re doing now.
- Don’t multi-task. Choose one activity (conversing with a loved one, wrapping presents, decorating) to do at a time and fully engage in it.
Add “no” to your vocabulary. It may be the season for giving, but it’s not the season for overextending or over-committing yourself. So if you don’t have time to make an extra four dozen cookies for the bake sale, politely decline. And if you don’t have the resources for that gift exchange, take a pass. If you’re diplomatic and honest, others will likely understand.
Communicate early with family, friends and co-workers. Already know you won’t be able to host company this year? Talk about it. Prevent hurt feelings and misunderstandings by broaching the subjects of travelling, hosting parties and exchanging gifts early.
Forget about perfection. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” holiday. People get sick. Quarrels erupt. Food gets scorched. It’s called life! Set realistic expectations for having a really good holiday, and you won’t set yourself up for disappointment.
The holidays should never be stressful.
And neither should your job search. Whether you want to find a flexible opportunity, land a better job or just earn some extra money, PrideStaff can ensure that you don’t just search, but succeed.
Our expert recruiters can help you assess your skills, interests and goals, and then present job opportunities that are an ideal match. Search jobs or register with your local PrideStaff office.
