What a huge, fast year it seems we had! Do you feel more than ever that you need to take a big breath and breathe it right out in a great BIG reset! Here’s a few ideas that might help you find some balance for the holidays.
A little planning and you can feel like you’ve done more and had a better break as well.
- SET BOUNDARIES. We often visit family or have people visit, which can be lovely or sometimes stressful or even both. Do your best to set boundaries, e.g. “I’m sorry we can only do 2 days this year” or “Somethings come up, and we need to adjust our plans”, etc.
- TAKE TIME TO RELAX. Think about what you’d like to do for relaxation and schedule it… I know it feels a bit stiff, taking the spontaneity out of it, but leave room for that too… Book a spa appointment or massage. Hide away and read a book. Whatever does it for you.
- PLAY. Schedule some friend and family game times – picnic or bocce, or make paper boats and race them, make your own pamper day or boys day out.
- CHILL OUT. Catch a movie and totally lose yourself for two hours.
- FEEL VIRTUOUS and do a declutter, maybe just a few hours to disappear that visual to-do list that is so annoying you every time you walk past it!
- COOK A FEAST and invite friends or neighbours, or do something special and kind for someone. It could make their day and yours, too.
- SLEEP! Sleep as much as you feel you can. So many of us are deprived of this simple fix. Your body can heal, your mind gets a rest, and your emotions calm down.
- SLOW DOWN. As much as you can. Amazingly, sometimes it seems when you go a little slower and relax a bit more, you end up doing more anyway… weird, I know! Be prepared to go with the flow when you can.
- RECONNECT with your close people… family and friends. Take time for a slow walk, a real conversation, a proper “How are you?” Or “How are we?”. How would you like to be next year? What can we do to make things better?
- DREAM. Ponder your future. I know it’s a biggy – but think about what is annoying you in your life. What can you do about it? Open yourself to possibilities, sometimes we can’t see how things can be different because we are too busy. Slowing down and creating time for reflection can really help you think differently. And if there are no answers to the
annoyances, just write them down in your diary or on a sticky note… to solve. Try putting a date next to it and your back burner may cook up some solutions… while you are relaxing.
Whatever you do, even you are working this holiday season, I hope you can go a little slower, relax a little more, take time to move towards your best self and enjoy being a beautiful, useful human with all the other humans that are trying their best to do the same.
