The Bird, The Tree & You

THE BIRD, THE TREE & YOU

I also love this time of year.  We start to feel the energy of the biggest holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, even before Halloween.  Many begin to decorate very early, and shopping probably started even earlier in the year.

 This message will be shorter because, well, it is holiday time and you have things to do, fun to be had and joy to be created.   I do not want to rain on the holidays, but I do want to remind you that moving through them with intention can reduce the stress that does come with this wonderful time.

First, the holiday To-Do List:

• Decorating: The pressure to create a Pinterest-perfect home.

• Gift-Giving: Finding the "right" gifts, budgeting, and managing expectations.

• Meal Prep: Planning, cooking, and hosting stress.

You have probably readied a lot of these areas already but still have finishing touches.  If you are just getting started, you’ve got this!

Next, the Family and Friends:

• Family Dynamics: Navigating tense relationships or dealing with loss, wanting time with friends (Because they are family, too.)

• Memories and Expectations: Balancing nostalgia with current realities.

Making time to spend with everyone can be daunting and exhausting.  If you have family members that live out of state (Like I do) you do the ‘who to spend it with’ this year.   If you and your spouse have divorced, this adds another level of how to balance the holidays for your children and reduce stress for all of you.

I get it, we want and expect the holidays to go a certain way.  You are doing so much to make them the best but, expectations of perfect can leave you overwhelmed.  Remember, there is NO such thing as perfect.  There are only the perceptions, beliefs, learned expectations of others.

 There can be Physical affects:

• Immune System Strain: Stress and exhaustion can weaken immunity, making you more susceptible to illness.

• Sleep Disruptions: Late nights and anxiety can lead to poor sleep, impacting energy levels and emotional resilience.

There are ways to minimize stress and give yourself more freedom to enjoy your holidays to the fullest, too.

Every person around your table has had a full life of personal experiences that were felt and seen through their own family’s history plus society’s influence.  There will be different thoughts, beliefs, viewpoints.

Here are a few ways to make sure you’re feeling the joy of the season.

1.    Leading up to and during gatherings, know your boundaries. Know where you will allow your energy to go while hosting and in conversations and activities.  Be willing to let others help.

2.    Remember, the season is about celebration and connection not perfection. (There is no such thing.)

3.    Take moments to pause and do a self-check.  How are you feeling?  Are you feeling tight, tension, achy, tired?   Be sure to stay hydrated and fueled with foods that include protein.  Stretch and take some deep breaths. 

 4.    If you’re feeling overwhelmed step back and turn your attention to something else to allow your brain to reboot.  By adjusting your focus you can relieve your mind, catch your breath and move forward.

5.   Enjoy yourself!  Give yourself grace and compassion.  The holiday season brings special treats of favorite family recipes, festive dinners and irresistible desserts.  Enjoying these with those we love gives us some of our warmest memories. 

If you are concerned with possible tension with certain people or situations tap into your sense of touch.  If you notice that you’re starting to feel tense place your fingers to your necklace, bracelet, a crystal in your pocket if you use them or something else nearby.  Notice the texture, whether it is cool or warm.  Having your awareness/attention move to your sense of touch will help to soften, create more space for breath and calm your nervous system.   Once you feel the tension subside you will have more clarity on how to move forward.

This season will be over before we know it.   I know you’re doing a lot of work to prepare and create a wonderful experience for your loved ones and friends. This is YOUR time to enjoy the magic of the season, too.

I said I would keep this shorter so you can get back to creating your wonderful holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!