7 Intentions for Your Best Holiday Season Yet – Without fail, this time of the year seems to sail by faster than any other. I’m not sure why that is – maybe an abundance of holidays on the calendar or a realization of all the goals we hoped to accomplish this year but didn’t (and now it feels like it’s too late).
When things start to feel like they’re spiraling out of control, here are seven phrases to help ground you and bring you back to your priorities.
1. I will go with the flow. There can be a lot of pressure to achieve perfection over the holidays. Instead of stressing yourself out over buying incredible gifts, hosting elegant parties, or accepting every invitation that comes your way, take a step back and remind yourself to go with the flow. I don’t know about you, but I want to reflect on the end of the year as a time of peace and stability – not worry and anxiety.
2. My priority is quality time, not gifts. It’s around this time of the year that we start seeing advertisements for “best-ever pricing!” and “holiday deals that won’t last long!” Feed into that and before you know it, you’re left with a perilously low bank balance and insecurity about whether you’ve overdone it. Instead, resist the temptation to buy new things and challenge yourself to evaluate what you really need to obtain for yourself or others. You may just realize that gift buying no longer serves you, and you’d rather spend time with the people who are important to you.
3. I will be gentle with myself. It’s common to let feelings of shame and guilt creep in over the holidays. “Why did I eat a second piece of pecan pie? I really have no self-control,” or “I don’t really feel like going to Andrea’s Friendsgiving, but I feel obligated.” These kinds of worries are normal, but they have no place in 2024! Release them. Let them go.
4. Loneliness will always pass. Get on social media these days and all you see is photos of holiday parties, Friendsgivings, and engagements. Compare that with what you have going on and even busy people might feel a bit lonely. Remind yourself that these feelings are temporary, and that relationships are about quality rather than quantity. You could also consider hosting your own gathering rather than waiting around for someone to invite you to their event.
5. I will let people help me. The Type A individuals among us might be tempted to take on task after task when this time of the year rolls around. Host Thanksgiving? I’d love to! Make holiday-themed treats for the school bake sale. Sign me up! Lead that client pitch session and try to land one more sale before the end of the year. Of course! Eventually, something has to give. Don’t let it be your mental health. Instead, delegate work to people who offer support and be proactive about involving others in your big projects. No one says you have to cook the entire Thanksgiving meal or decorate your house until it looks like it could be in a magazine. Assign pieces to people and focus your effort on strategy rather than execution.
6. I welcome forgiveness and gratitude into my life. As we begin reflecting on the year that is coming to a close, feelings of anger or resentment might bubble up unexpectedly. You might be lamenting the fact that you didn’t get promoted in 2024 and blame one of your teammates for causing the team to not hit its annual sales targets. Or perhaps you think about your Thanksgiving guest list and remember that ex who you had pictured attending… before they broke up with you. As hard as it might be, take a deep breath and let those feelings go. This is the time of the year for gratitude and appreciation. Focus on all the great things that do exist in your life, not the ones you wish you had.
7. I will look for the good in people. Just as the holidays can be a time for joy, there are also moments where we all really question humanity (if you’ve ever seen Black Friday shopping videos where people bash each other over the head in their hunt for a bargain TV, you know what I’m talking about). For a reminder of what the holiday season is really about, volunteer at a place with a holiday rush – such as a food pantry or soup kitchen. You’ll get to meet other people doing the same thing and perhaps rediscover your holiday spirit.
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