I think the biggest problem is we try to celebrate it too much. In a concentrated frenzy, we shop for gifts, decorate, and cook for Christmas. There are work parties, friend’s gathering and family traditions. (Just from work alone, I got four invites for holiday parties!) By Christmas Day, you’ve already been celebrating Christmas for 3-4 weeks. All the sparkly lights and sugary treats become a holiday blur and it stops being fun and starts being a chore. How do you enjoy the holidays, while not driving yourself mad?
Being on my own this season has made me very conscious of making good choices to be able to enjoy the holiday season. My major revelation has been prioritizing what is not important and minimizing the time spent on it:
- Christmas cards. I skipped this. I admit, I was very tempted (to feel obligated) to send Christmas cards, at least to those who sent them to me. I resisted.
- Decorations. I started to rile myself up over decorations and then realized, decking my house out was not all that important to me. Instead, I volunteered to decorate the office. I get to see lovely holiday decorations five times a week.
- Gifts. Shopping for gifts is a chore. So I got my shopping done early. I simply asked people what they wanted and shopped online, as much as, possible. The day after Thanksgiving, I was at the post office, mailing off boxes. That’s right, Rani Claus brings you exactly what you asked for!
- Holiday parties. I scheduled the important ones first so that I didn’t end up trying to juggle my time. I also said no thanks to some invites.
I know, I sound a little grinchy. Like the majority of people, I really want to enjoy the holidays, but the list of “to-dos” and “should dos” has become a burden. I minimized or eliminated the things I wasn’t really enjoying. I was left with time to focus on the people and things, I do enjoy:
-Spending quality time with family. I used to go back to Hawaii for Christmas, but people were busy there too. To spend time with them, I practically had to follow them around while they did the Christmas chores. Now, I plan my Hawaii trips during non-holidays for maximum quality time. I direct my attention to the family I do have here. My sister and I have an annual Christmas lunch with my Aunty. This year, there are some popular Hawaii entertainers coming to Cali to do a Christmas show, which my sister and I got tickets too! So I get quality family time and taste of Hawaii.
- Event Traditions. There is no shortage of events you can participate in for the holidays. Instead of trying to do them all, I decided to pick a couple and really enjoy them. My picks for this year are Holiday of Lights at Folsom Zoo and ice skating. Ice skating last through January, so if I don’t make it before Christmas, I will be okay with that.
- Christmas Feast. I try to make good eating choices prior to the holiday. By saving special food for the special day, it is well- actually special.
- Sweets and Treats. Oh the temptations are endless, but I have my favorites like- peppermint mochas. Yes, I realize you can get these year round, but I only get them during the holiday season. That makes it taste even better. It is amazing how much the little things matter.
So far my post-Thanksgiving time has been manageable. I suffer some residual guilt for saying no to party invitations and not sending out Christmas cards. But mostly I relish the calmness that allows me to enjoy this season. This may be the first Christmas, I’ve actually had time to enjoy since childhood.
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