To Deck The Halls…Or Not.

If the holiday season stresses you out, or makes you crazy, or overwhelmed this might just be the post for you.  While it’s true that we all live a hectic paced life, made doubly so in this season, it doesn’t mean we have to accept this as our lot.

I’m listing three things that have worked for me in the past, and I plan on having them work for me again this year.  Anything to make it easy.  I’m basically a lazy bones and don’t have any desire to work hard to have a good time.  For you fellow lazy souls…follow me.  Everyone else…good luck.

1. Assume.

Assume it’s easy.  That you have all the time in the world.  That every time you enter a store or go online the perfect item is available to you.  No money this year?  No matter.  Can you make something, or if you’re  like me with little skills in that direction, then organize an experience as your gift.  Sometimes a little time is all that we want.

Assume that all those things you needed to do, be it decorating the tree or any other holiday ritual, got done and you didn’t even break a sweat.  Always assume exactly what you want, after all it’s not over till it’s over.  And while it’s easy to focus on all the things we don’t want to happen., how helpful is that?  No, that won’t do at all, not for us lazy folks.

Direct your thoughts to where you want them to go.  It’s time to take charge and make it easy on yourself.  Give yourself permission to ditch whatever old habits don’t work for you, regardless of what anyone else thinks.  Then breathe…slowly.

2. Imagine.

Think about the perfect outcome.  You are relaxed and everything is organized.  The family are happy, the house is just as you want it to be…hey this is your imagined outcome, make it what you want.  No room for old experiences or expectations here.  Make a little movie in your head.  You are the author, the director and the star of this movie.  And isn’t it great to be so relaxed?  Being lazy’s not so bad is it?

3. Feel.

We all get to choose what we feel…about anything and everything.  Even though our reactions to events seem automatic and out of our control, they’re really not.  In the midst of an OMG I’ve got too much to do and not enough time meltdown, you can stop, take a deep breath and know you have a choice to feel differently.  It will amaze you how a different perspective brings a different result.  I used to have nightmares every Christmas that I’d forgotten my Mum and it was Christmas Eve and there wasn’t time to make or get anything.  I always woke up in such a panic, feeling awful. I had these for years.

Then I taught myself to feel happy throughout the season, no matter what.  And odd as it might seem the nightmares stopped.  Feeling happy because you choose to, is just as good as feeling happy because something wonderful occurred.  In fact…choosing to feel happy in the first place will probably bring that wonderful something.

Try it and see.

And if all else fails, go for a pedicure or a massage or just have a stiff drink or whatever floats your boat.  Whatever it takes.  It’s all good if you believe it to be so.  Take time for you.  My lazy little heart definitely plans on taking time for me.

xo

Elle

Photo credits
Mike Knell

Simon Aughton

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