Workin’ It – Staying Sane During the Holidays

 

Happy Humpday, you guys!

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the internet all the time. I really do value our friendships. And I do think of you as friends! I love what we share on here and that we often share each other’s prayer requests and praises. I love that silly little blogs can bring so much joy! Speakin of joy…

Tis’ the season to sing Joy to the World, yet why do we sometimes feel little to no joy at all? Tis’ the season to be stressed! For today’s Workin’ It we are linking up with Erika and Shay to talk about how we stay sane during the holidays.

1. STAY ORGANIZED

I know I’ve shared my love for Erin Condren’s Life Planners before, but staying organized is the number one way to stay sane during the holidays. My planner is my lifeline sometimes.

 

I prefer the horizontal planner. This is where I write out all of my activities for the week, and there’s a section for notes of things to do that particular week. For example: buy birthday card, or get ingredients for Christmas party dish. I use the month at a glance page to schedule out all my blog posts for the month. And of course my favorite parts are all the fun stickers and inspirational pages throughout!

 

I’m on my third Erin Condren and I can see myself using it for many years in the future!

 

2. ENJOY THE PRESENT

Here’s the truth: I hate spending Christmas morning at the blasted nursing home. However, it’s the only way I get to spend Christmas with Mom. This will be the 8th Christmas we’ve gone up there to open gifts and spend time together. There’s no Santa Claus, no chestnuts roasting on the open fire, no sweet smells of holiday treats. The holidays can be hard on our family. We are always on edge, waiting on the other shoe to drop. The best way for me to combat this and stay sane is to try to be present. Emphasis on the word try. Focus on what you’re doing, even the madness in the mall or the horrible traffic. Just be thankful for that moment. You never know when it will be your last Christmas with someone.

 

3. Prioritize Your Activities

Traditions are very important to me and my family. The holidays are full of activity. Parties to attend, lights to see, concerts to perform in (or watch), shopping and wrapping to do. It’s best not to overload yourself, so prioritze which events matter most. It’s okay to pick and choose so that you can fully enjoy each opportunity.

 

4. REMEMBER

Each Christmas brings its own set of memories. Some are fun and exciting. Some kinda make you sad. I’ve shown you this picture from a choir Christmas party around 2011 or so. The pastor has since moved on to a new appointment, one gentleman and two of the ladies have retired from singing – along with their husbands who were an extended part of our choir. And then there are those who have left us for good and we miss them terribly. It’s okay to remember and reminisce about the good ole days as long as you are still following Number 2 as well. Remembering helps you stay present and enjoy this season too.

 

How are you workin’ it this season? Let me know how you stay sane during the holidays!