One of the hardest things about adult life is creating a work-life balance. It’s so easy to work too much and never give yourself a break. On the other hand, it’s equally as easy to get distracted and not put enough effort into work. Maintaining this balance gets even more challenging around the holiday season. It seems that everyone wants something. Your family wants to see you and spend time with you, your boss wants you to work extra hours to make sure everything is done before your vacation time, your kids want to go on trips, and you just want to breathe. So breathe.
A couple of months ago, we discussed burnout and how to avoid it in depth. All of those boundaries and tips are super important to make it through the holiday season. But, remember what this season is all about. Remember when you were young and every day of December seemed to be filled with magic? Bring that back. Find joy in the little things. Whether that’s the first snow of the season, a local Christmas parade, or finding that perfect gift you know they will love. Magic is everywhere around us if we just take a breath and see it.
With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can seem like there is never enough time to get stuff done. Slow down and take everything one day at a time. Remind yourself why you’re doing all the things you’re doing. Maybe you’re so stressed about finding the Christmas gift that you’ve lost sight of the fact you just want to show appreciation to someone you care about. Or maybe you’re so focused on making sure everyone gets to spend the same amount of time with you that you forget that you want to spend time with them too. The holiday season can make our To-Do List seem impossible to get through. When it gets to be too much, take a step back and remember that the point of the holiday season isn’t to spend the most money or make the best food; it’s about spending time with family and friends and creating joy and magic in a world that often seems bleak.
If you only walk away from this blog post with one thing, let it be this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to do everything yourself. Let the magic of this time of year bring you closer with those around you, and ask for help when you feel overwhelmed. Let yourself find joy in the little things. And let yourself see the season with a childlike wonder.