Here comes that busy time of year again! We gear up to take care of all the things and all the people. We have so many things to keep straight and remember in an attempt to make holiday memories wonderful: events to schedule, gifts to get, places to visit, and the lists. Oh the Lists!!
All that prep work can definitely pay off when you finally get to pause and look around at the people you love having a good time. Our hearts fill up so quickly... until that one little comment, look, or sigh sends us back years, to memories that aren’t so loving and perfect...
That’s when we feel that tension rise up and not leave our body. It taints the next interactions we have with anyone near us and spreads like a wildfire, here, there, and everywhere.
That is, it CAN spread, if we let it.
Luckily, this is another thing we can prep for. With family visiting soon and our own expectations of what is to come, here’s how you can empower yourself throughout the stress that compounds it all.
1. Tackle your own head-space.
We usually do our best when we enter emotional situations with some idea of how we would like to see ourselves engage. Take a few minutes before the big events (even days before) and imagine how you would have liked to handle a past situation differently. Set your intentions for how you want to behave, take a breath and rehearse in your head or in the mirror. Tell yourself, just like a coach, “You got this! You are confident, calm, and collected.” Even if you do not react how you envisioned, you will be more prepared than if you did not enter into the situation with intention.
2. Prioritize your mental and emotional well being as much as anything else on your lists.
This is just as important as buying the groceries or cleaning the dishes.Set aside some time to listen to a meditation or energy clearing before and after family time. Schedule in self care activities - it may sound like just another thing to do, but ultimately it will keep your battery charged and help you feel good throughout the hustle and bustle. Your own mental health, family time, and holiday experiences are just as important as everyone else's - including your kids (who you undoubtedly are doing all this for)!
