The Holidays Already?!?
11/23/2024
Whether you love or dread the holidays, read this before you overindulge, overspend, or overcommit. It might save you a couple of pounds, a few hours of rest, and more than a few dollars.
Is this an obligation or a fun tradition?
Traditions can be pancakes on Sundays or everyone coming over for Christmas Eve and opening presents. But here’s the liberating truth: traditions are not set in stone. In a constantly changing world, why not question and redefine them? What if we threw out all the rules and started from scratch? Would we pick the same time-honored tradition or something entirely new? The power is in your hands.
Here’s an exercise that might rock your world and open your heart. List all the traditions you have with yourself and with others. Once you have the list, ask yourself, does this sound fun? Does this tradition still serve everyone involved? Be honest with yourself. I’m not suggesting throwing everything out the window; I’m suggesting a shift in perspective. As life progresses, some traditions might feel confining and obligatory. As you, your family, and your friends grow, look for new ways to connect. It could be changing dates, locations, or venues of long-standing traditions or beginning new ones.
Make your time more joyful by embracing change. Eliminate traditions that feel like rules to follow, not events to be cherished. Keep in mind that while you might not want things to change, others might be ready for something new. See it as an opportunity to create new and unique experiences with the people you love most. Be open-minded and ready to adapt.
The Unexpected Gift
We’ve all been in a position where someone we know brings us a sweet gift and we panic and say, “Oh, man, I forgot yours at home.” We automatically feel the need to reciprocate. Why? How about we learn to receive with grace? Take a breath and show your gratitude for this person’s thoughtful gift. Then, write a heartfelt thank you.
However, if you need to make an excuse because you don’t have a gift for them, make an honest one. Here are a few jumping-off points.
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Thank you for this kind gift. I love it! This year, I’m only buying for my family.
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I appreciate you thinking about me. I always think about you and could find a dozen things to buy you. But this year, my list is short due to time and budget.
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This is so kind, thank you. I keep my gifting list small. Instead, I adopt a family in need to buy for since most of us already have what we need.
Open your heart, not your wallet
It’s easy to get stuck in a weird buying dynamic, where you exchange because you always have in the past. What if you have some honest conversations instead? Maybe instead of gifting, which creates a longer to-do list and an enormous Amex bill, you start a new tradition and give the gift of time or an experience. You can plan things you’d do anyway or something extravagant.
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Hey, how about we plan a dinner together after the holidays? You can come over, and we’ll cook a new recipe together.
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Why don’t we give each other a pedicure from the spa down the street a few weeks after the holiday craziness?
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What do you think about taking an adventure to (fill in an off-beat local attraction) after the holidays?
Greens before other things!
I think it’s weird we purposely eat “bad things” during the holidays, knowing we’ll feel terrible later. I’m not perfect, but I do my best, which requires a little planning before parties and gatherings. I work hard at keeping toxins, sugar, fried foods, and processed foods out of my body, so here’s what I do before going out:
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I drink a green drink—this fills me up and gives my body something healthy to work on.
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I make sure I’m not hungry. I’ll have protein of some sort before I leave the house.
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When something looks irresistible, I’ll eat it. If I deprive myself of it, I’ll probably eat many other things, trying to satisfy the craving. Plus, no one’s perfect, and I follow the 90/10 rule (sometimes 80/20). I make excellent choices nine times out of ten; sometimes, I have homemade cookies.
The bottom line is maintaining a grip on reality and your budget over the holidays. Instead of overindulging, have deep conversations, spend time with loved ones, cook together, take walks, and write thank-you notes for those who showed up for you!
All my Love – Julie