Thriving Through the Holiday Season

Oops. I'm a little late with the December Positive Planner. I was still napping from Thanksgiving dinner.

Well, in any case, the holiday season is such an important opportunity for us to take stock of what's important to us, to focus on the people in our lives, our values, faith and spirituality, and on what is truly meaningful to us.

Unfortunately, for many people, the busyness of the season with obligations to family, friends and coworkers, plus the experience of holiday shopping, along with the pressure we place on ourselves to have the perfect holiday may leave us feeling more humbug than ho-ho-ho.

So, with this month's Positive Planner I offer you some ideas about getting back to the real meaning of the holiday season.

Let's begin with a little imagery.

Creating Your Most Memorable Holiday

Think back to your happiest holiday memories. Take a couple of moments to really get into the experience.

What do you remember?

What was most important to you?

What made you happiest?

What kind of sensory memories came back to you?

Over the years, I have asked this of many people. People describe time with loved ones and friends, smells, tastes, laughter, meals. People's fondest memories don't revolve around the gifts they received. Sure, they may remember the excitement and expectation around opening brightly covered packages, but no one has ever told me that their best holiday memory was the "......" they got.

So, as you plan your holidays this year, keep this in mind.

What memories do you want to create for yourself and the people in your life this year?

What might keep you from creating that experience and what can you do about it?

Choose at least one concrete action you can take to help create your most memorable holiday experience.

Do it, and my best wishes for a happy, memorable, and meaningful holiday season!

DeStressing Though the Holidays

Even with our best intentions, this can be a stressful or draining time of year. So here are some thoughts about managing your holiday season stress.

1. Look at your planner. How many parties and gatherings would be manageable, and how many would be overwhelming? Choose carefully, and don't overextend. If there are no festivities on your calendar, you may want to consider scheduling some social time.

2. Set a spending budget for gifts. Remember, it really is the thought that counts. Over spending and overbuying actually detract from the true meaning of the season. People want presence, not presents.

3. Take care of yourself. Schedule alone time if you need, or quiet time with friends and family and do something you truly enjoy. Even though you may find yourself surrounded by tasty treats and threats to your exercise routine, fit in time for some physical activity and eat healthily between celebrations.

4. Pay attention to early warning signs of stress and exhaustion and don't wait until you run out of gas to refuel. One of the most difficult lessons that I have learned (and I must keep working at) is that I'm not doing anybody any favors when I exhaust myself trying to take care of everyone.

5. Remember being told to count to ten when you're upset. It really works! When you find yourself stressed out, STOP! Take a deep breath, then another, etc. Take ten deep breaths to reduce your stress level.

6. To help prevent post holiday season back to reality whiplash, try to keep some semblance of your ordinary routine during the season and pace your holiday events. Consider planning some post holiday festivities.

7. One of the best stress reducers of all is connecting with a sense of spirituality, meaning, and purpose. Use these suggestions along with your own ideas to stay connected with the true meaning of this season.

Gift Guide

Gifts we don't need.

1. Sweaters

2. Knickknacks

3. Fruitcakes

4. Singing Fish

Gifts we do need.

1. Time

2. Wellbeing

3. Love

4. Peace

Look within yourself or seek guidance from a trusted mentor or coach to see how you can offer these gifts to yourself and your loved ones this year.

Positive Plan Updates

Over the past several months I have expanded my service offering to include brief consultations for lifestyle change and life design; Strengths, Emotional Intelligence and Personality type assessments; the Weight Control Recipe for Success program; and Authentic Happiness Coaching.

For more information on how these or any of my other programs and services can help you get more of what you are looking for in life, email Michelle@PositivePlan.com, call 518-478-0093, or check my website for updates.

Looking forward

As you approach the New Year, you will probably be considering your New Year's Resolutions. Look for the January Positive Planner for tips on setting and keeping your commitments and promises to yourself.

Happy New Year!