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The Idea of the Week
What do you hope will happen this holiday season? What do you expect will happen? Our expectations about what the holiday season should look like can sometimes clash with our capacity, leading to stress. To manage our holiday stress, let’s first take a closer look at our expectations.
Hold your vision of the holiday season in your mind, and ask yourself, “Is this something I can actually do this year? Do I have the capacity to fulfill this expectation?” Even if it is something you did last year, it does not always mean you can do it this year.
As you hold the vision in your mind, also consider if that is what you want. Are your expectations filled with “should” statements?
“I should go to the office party.”
“I should be the one hosting the dinner for the family this year.”
These “should” statements may produce shame, stress, or anxiety, as they may imply that you are not doing enough. Should you do it, or do you want to do it? Does this activity, event, etc., bring you joy?
“I have the opportunity to go to the office party. Do I want to go?”
“Our family member usually hosts dinner this year. I could host the family dinner this year. Do I have the capacity to do this? Does this make me happy?”
The Practice of the Week
Family gatherings may bring a clash of beliefs, and instead of enjoying a family meal, we find ourselves in the midst of arguments and conflicts. In this 8-minute article, Verywell Mind outlines several tips on How to Navigate the Dinner Table Topics, while maintaining your boundaries and protecting your mental well-being. The article also describes how to turn the heated debate into a constructive discussion.
Another way to reduce stress this season is to participate in mental wellness events such as our upcoming Holiday Sound Bath on December 7th and Conscious Connected Breathwork on December 20th. We are also offering a Men’s retreat on December 11th through 14th. See our News of the Week below for more details.
ADHD brains experience time differently, which adds another challenge to the holiday season. You may find yourself in a mad scramble to do all the things before the “deadline,” i.e., the holidays.
If you struggle with this mad dash scramble, Jess from How to ADHD shares ADHD-friendly ways to make the holidays less stressful. Starting with the two-step plan outlined below, Jess also tackles the barriers that get in our way.
Step 1: Before you do anything, make a list of everything you would like to do this holiday season
Step 2: Figure out when you are going to do it, including every aspect of it.
Tip: Put time in perspective. You do not have 6 weeks until the holiday. If you only have a couple of hours each week to work on holiday plans, then you really only have 12 hours.
Check out Jess’s video to tackle the time barriers you may face this holiday season.
News of the Week
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The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
