Let the Holidays be Filled with Joy (not Stress), Part 2

December 05, 2024 Amanda Olivia

The First Steps to an Intentional Season

Earlier this week, in Part 1 of the Holidays Filled with Joy series, we covered the first steps to creating an intentional and stress-free holiday season: Envision, Decide, Simplify. If you haven’t read it yet, start there.

Today, in Part 2 of the series, you’ll learn how to turn that vision into a reality. How do we actually apply our vision to a simplified stress-free holiday season?

The next and final steps in creating holidays filled with joy (not stress) are to plan, enjoy, and be present. Seems simple enough.

Let’s dive in and see how to use mindfulness for holiday stress!

Turning Your Vision and Decisions into Reality

Hopefully, you’ve read Part 1 and have your vision for the holiday season. Once you have your vision, you’ll make decisions and simplify based on that vision.

Take a few deep breaths now, close your eyes, and bring to mind your vision of the holidays that will fill your heart and soul. State your holiday mantra a few times.

Remember as you move through the holiday season to make decisions based on this vision and these feelings. Use your holiday mantra as often as needed.

Start Planning

Now with these feelings in your body and the vision in mind, begin to plan your stress-free holiday season. Write down all of the “must-dos,” all of the “nice-to-dos,” and anything else that comes to mind about the upcoming season.

Once you have a pretty complete list, take another few breaths and return to your simple holiday vision.

Review each item on the list and, from the perspective of your vision and the feelings you want to bring in this holiday season, ask the following questions (and mark each item accordingly):

Does this item align with my vision?

If yes, put a checkmark by it.
If no, can you remove it from your list entirely? If so, cross it out.

If it does not align with your vision, but you feel it must still be done, ask why.

Can it be accomplished by someone else? Delegate. (Add an arrow with that person’s name.)
How can the item be simplified? For example, perhaps “visit all our parents” is a must-do but does not align with your vision. If all the parents came to celebrate at your home in one visit, would that be simpler for you and bring you closer to your vision?

Is this really a “must-do” or is it more like a “nice-to-do”? With your vision in mind, reassess. Perhaps some of your “nice” items are really “musts” based on your vision, but they’re taking a backseat to what you’re used to calling a “must” and vice versa. Look again at what remains on your list. This is your holiday season. Your vision. If it were all up to you, would these shift? How? Make whatever adjustments you’re able to now.

One more time, review your list. Eliminate what you can. Delegate what you can. And simplify everything else. You can accomplish everything if you take these steps during this planning stage.

Make sure to leave room in your stress-free holiday season to refresh and recenter - and for unexpected events that may pop up. When unexpected items come up, revisit this process, using your mantra and your vision as your guide.

ENJOY and Be Present During this Time

It’s easy to get caught up in the doing, buying, sending. Even when you’ve gone through the process of creating an intentional and simple holiday season, you may still find yourself busy, busy, busy.

Choose a set time to check in with yourself regularly throughout the season. Perhaps you start each morning setting an intention for the day. Perhaps each day before you have your coffee or lunch, you check in on your energy, re-center on your vision, and state your mantra.

As you move through each day and week, each event and task, just intend to be mindful, present, and enjoy it. Just by setting a simple intention, you may find you are more mindful and enjoy things more.

Breathe deeply before, during, and after tasks and events. Set your intention of having a mindful holiday season. State your mantra. Feel free to place a hand on your heart during this practice. Here are some examples of when you might do this:

Before you open your door to welcome your guests.
Before you head to the post office and while you’re in line.
Before you enter an event.
Give gratitude during and after events and successfully accomplished tasks.

Notice the Magic

This truly is the most wonderful and magical time of the year. Take time to notice that! Watch how people are kinder and more generous to one another. Look at all the beautiful, twinkling lights. Listen to and enjoy the joy-filled festive music playing wherever you go. Watch the twinkling of magic in children’s eyes as they look forward to Christmas morning and being visited by Santa. Enjoy the cooler weather and the gorgeous glistening snow.

There’s truly nothing like this time of year. But if you’re too busy, you might just miss it. So slow down. Pay attention. Enjoy it. Be present. Witness the magic that’s all around you.

After all, this season only comes once a year. And you’ve intentionally created your season to be filled with joy. Take it all in. You so deserve this.