December Newsletter
As the calendar turns to December, I am aware of the quickening pace around me. Shoppers hurrying to get the best deals on gifts, the first snow falls and we are trying to get back into groove of winter driving. The mornings are dark and the daylight hours are shorter. The holiday season is upon us.
Whether you have to begin making preparations for the holiday, or just want to survive them, it helps to take some time to list what stresses you out and have a plan for how you will cope. Here are some questions to ponder:
What are the stressors you experience around the holidays?
- Hosting parties or hosting friends or family for a meal
- Shopping for gifts, online or in the stores
- Driving in congested traffic or finding parking spots
- Baking holiday cookies or writing out greeting cards
- Dealing with people who are in a hurry and have forgotten to be courteous
- Decorating the house and trimming the tree
- Being with family
- Being alone
- Spending the holidays without a loved one
- Taking time for yourself
- Acknowledge and identify what stresses you out.
Schedule what is possible and say "No" to the things that aren’t. You get to decide. - Get enough rest and nourishment.
- Make To Do lists: gifts to purchase, meals to prepare, parties to attend, people to call, errands to run, and schedule these tasks into your planner.
- Be patient while driving or shopping; shop early or take a day off work to avoid crowds.
- Work in down-time for yourself and your family to regenerate energy.
- Let people help you if they ask, and don't hesitate ask for help. You don’t need to do it all alone.
- Take time to listen to music, read, exercise, mediate, worship--whatever your mode of getting in touch with your own spirit.
- Show people that you love them by calling or writing to those who are far away or out of touch, but near and dear to your heart.
- Be thankful for the blessings that you have and give something to people less fortunate.
Take time to prepare and you will enjoy the holiday season before us.
Sincerely,
Maureen and Joe