Creating Holiday Bliss for yourself! (part 1)

The Holiday Season is around the corner! Time for doing too many things at once, gifting, spending and taking care of many others. Does that sound like you? Is your head spinning already?

Before you care about anyone else, take some time for yourself and think about how you would like to celebrate the Holiday Season. How about doing the Holidays your way, your style, without the stress of making everyone happy? It’s possible!
Create a clear picture in your mind of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, your shopping experience, how the family dinner will look like, how the house will be decorated and how you will sparkle.
Make sure you don’t stop your imagination by believing that “it isn’t going to happen” or by distracting yourself with the “I don’t know how that would be received”- scenario.
Dream and create Holiday Bliss for yourself. Once you’re clear on your dream, it’s time to make a plan.

Here’s a short list of things that you can do differently and create a wonderful Holiday experience for yourself and your family:

• Do it together and share the love: have a family meeting and share your plan for the Holidays, including your budget. Think together of making a donation to a good cause rather than spending it all on gifts & food and new clothes.
  Everyone can take on some tasks and responsibilities, it’s much more fun as a team.
  Write out a list of things that need done and by when, and let everyone pick and choose. Then value each other’s actions. Remember: throw “being perfect” out the door, “good enough” is awesome!
• Spend wisely: it’s totally fine to limit the amount of money you wish to spend on food, decorations, gifts and travels. Let your family know. Don’t overwhelm yourself by wanting to spoil others while draining your bank account and going for the headaches in January when the bills come in.
  Pay cash or debit. Avoid shopping online via your credit card. Track your spending so you don’t overspend. Ask your spouse to do the same and keep all the receipts in one folder.
• Support your community: make it an effort to shop local. Donate to the foodbank. Attend a community event with your family. Share love and feel connected.
• Be your own fashionista: before you “shop till you drop” because you believe you may look better in something new, check your closets and find that beautiful dress that looks stunning on you, add your favorite accessories! Or gift yourself a new scarf to go with your dress.
  The time that you save you can spend on a little luxury… treat yourself on a spa-treatment in your own bath-tub.Enjoy these tips, what is your favorite?

  Check out part 2 soon.

Saskia Jennings
Certified Caregiving Consultant & Educator
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
http://www.creatingbeingwell.com
Current Phone #: 647.528.2037