Make Space for What Matters This Holiday Season
The holidays are just around the corner. November and December are often the busiest and most expensive months of the year, but they're also?supposed to be?the most wonderful. Despite fun-filled festivities, we can stretch ourselves so thin that we finish out the year feeling tired, broke, overwhelmed, or frustrated rather than grateful.
Here are a few tips for making space for more of what matters this holiday season:
Turn off distractions.?Technology has given us great conveniences, but it has also made us more distracted and disconnected. When was the last time someone had your complete, undivided attention? How often do you communicate with your spouse or kids but keep one eye on your cell phone, waiting for that email or text response? I’ve started aiming for 20 minutes per night with each of my kids where I can be 100 percent focused on them individually – not an easy task for a father of four, a husband, and business owner! I check my phone, personal worries, and ulterior motives at the door, and I just sit with them. We talk about what’s going on in their lives and what we’re each learning. Deleting social media apps or instating a household cell phone curfew can help all of us focus on each other and communicate better.
Don’t do everything.?Traditions can be wonderful. Making memories with loved ones is meaningful. But I’d encourage you to simplify just how many things you do this holiday season and make sure they support your most important values. Maybe this year, you choose not to put Christmas lights on the house. Or mail out family Christmas cards. Or cut a tree down yourself. There’s nothing wrong with declining a holiday party invitation or skipping baking cookies if you have too much on your plate. Then again, maybe those are the activities your kids love most or that teach important family history. Holiday priorities will vary in each household. Just make sure your family talks about the options and decides what’s most important to say ‘yes’ to this year.
Fill your cup.?Anese Cavanaugh?is an author, speaker, consultant, and creator of the Intentional Energetic Presence Method?. She believes that self-care is a superpower of all great leaders, and I believe that applies to the home as much as the office. Our attitude and ability to respond lovingly to those around us depends on our physical, mental, and emotional state. Being present and grateful this holiday season requires that we be rested and well-resourced. For me, that means making time to workout, focus on my faith, and take my wife on dates. If I don’t do these things, my perspective and impact won’t be what I want – no matter how much clutter I remove from my calendar.
This year, I encourage you to give your full attention to the people and activities that are most important – and make space to care for yourself, so you can better care for others.