Most people love what the holiday season brings, the changing of colors, cool evenings, and plenty of
activities for family and friends. It also starts the season of busy. School starts, every weekend becomes booked with activities and preparations for the holiday season.
During this time, it can be easy to push things off until the New Year or give up on something I can’t figure out how to work into the new season. I tell myself I’ll just start over in the new year, and while that can be helpful for some people, even necessary at times, we get to the new year and are overwhelmed with everything we’ve delayed, habits we’ve broken, and are being bombarded with ads for holiday gift lists, fitness, weight loss, and productivity tips – new year, new you.
What if we didn’t enter the last quarter of the year with dread and stress? What if we entered it mindfully so we can continue the new year on a steady track instead of burnt out
and needing a vacation from, well, everything?
Here are some mindful exercises to help plan the last quarter.
- Grab a piece of paper and a writing instrument. Write down things you absolutely
want to do throughout the rest of the year for the holidays. Do you like to handmake
decorations or holiday cookies? If you have a family, ask them what their musts are
for each holiday. - Next write down what you dread. Is it grocery shopping and cooking for
Thanksgiving? Is it traveling or packing for traveling? If you have a family, consider
what triggers arguments or complaints. Are there any easy solutions for these
problems? - Now look at your regular schedule and commitments not related to the holidays. Is
there anything you want to cut? Make a list of what you would like to say “no” to. Is
there anything your family wants to say no to as a whole? What can you fit into your
schedule for each person, while leaving room for rest? Where can you leave
breathing room between events or activities? - Write out a downtime list. You don’t necessarily have to nap or do nothing during that
time (but you certainly can!). Choose things that rejuvenate you or leave you feeling
good about yourself and your life. This is when you might choose to do Pilates,
meditation, art, journaling, whatever you love to do. If you have a family pick out
some things each person wants to do individually. You may also choose a few things
you want to do as a family such as game nights or watching a tv series or movie
you’ve been looking forward to. - Now look at your schedule. Does it look manageable? Does everyone get the thing they
most want? Is there time for hobbies and self-care? Are there slow times in between
long days?
If your schedule still brings you dread, there may have to be some hard choices. Try to
look at everything going on and ask what can be put off. Is there something that would be better attempted during a different season? Is there something that no longer fits who you are as a person? How do you feel after the scheduled items? Can you do any of the items in bulk?
Some examples: Maybe you need to service your car and you need to shop for Christmas gifts. While you’re waiting for your car, do all the browsing for what you want to buy each person in your life and make the lists. If you have the money, you can even order it.
Maybe you’re in a book club, but after thinking about it you realize you don’t enjoy the books or the discussion for it. Maybe it’s something better to do only during the short days of winter months but is something you skip in summer and fall while you do outdoor activities. Everything you love to do may not be for every season.
Perhaps you alternate activities. Apple picking in even years and pumpkin carving in odd years. The goal is to set attainable goals that don’t wipe you out. If you are stressed and overwhelmed, you probably won’t enjoy all that you’ve signed up to do anyway. Intentionally set your time so that you can be joyful and create enduring habits and patterns that provide relief to your calendar.
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