Chances are that at this time of year you are in one of the following positions: the holidays are behind you, in full-swing, or yet-to-come. Hopefully, you’ve already made a plan and stuck to it. But if you’re a procrastinator like me, you have no plan and are winging it.
I’m okay with winging it, but…it comes with consequences. Some of which I’m not willing to pay, particularly at the holidays. I want to enjoy my family and the holiday. In order to do that fully, it helps to have a plan, even a last-minute plan.
Protect Your Energy
Think it’s too late to protect your energy by getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating nutritious foods, and exercising? Stop overextending yourself right now. Make a commitment to do better for the next seven days.
Eat nutritiously for two meals a day. Allow yourself to indulge in treats and goodies for one meal a day, but don’t overstuff yourself.
No matter how much you hate exercise, your body needs it. (This comes from a self-avowed exercise hater.) Exercise makes everything work better, from your heart to your digestion to your blood vessels and your body’s cells. Take a short walk or at least get outside for five minutes. Yes, even if it means putting on a coat or carrying an umbrella.
Get to bed at a reasonable time. And if you don’t? Make a plan with your family and friends to sleep in later or take a nap during the day. You’ll all feel better and get along better if you do. But that’s not all us procrastinators should do…
Set Realistic Expectations
Oops, you’ve already missed this boat. You didn’t plan ahead, did you? You’re not the only one. So let’s set some expectations.
First, acknowledge that you will not maintain a normal creative work life during the holiday.
Take five to ten minutes and list everything you believe you need to accomplish before your holiday. Estimate how long each activity will take. How many total hours is that? Much longer than the time remaining, I’m sure. (Don’t ask me how I know).
Take three from that list and put them on your list for today. Work on getting them done. If you don’t get something done, decide if it’s done enough or you’ll put it on your three things to do for tomorrow.
Accept that you are Not. Going. To. Get. It. All. Done. And it’s okay. You’ll have the most important things done and still have the energy to enjoy your holiday with your family and friends.
I hear you. You don’t think you can be present if you don’t do it all or you don’t do any of your normal creative things during the holidays. Look for pockets of time between activities.
Pockets of Time
Those who planned, scheduled two or more quiet times for themselves most days. A five- to ten-minute period of quiet to decompress from the flurry of getting ready is an incredibly powerful tool to allow you to recharge and be fully present with your family and friends. The second quiet period can be for your creativity or additional rest, depending on which refreshes you more. But without pre-planning, you’ll have to watch for the opportunity when the time comes. Excuse yourself for five to fifteen minutes. Find a quiet place. Sit in stillness and quiet. No scrolling. No electronics. No creative work project. You’ll need the stillness and quiet to refresh.
If you get a second pocket of five to fifteen minutes, get a notebook and jot down ideas or thoughts about your creative project during that time. Refreshing your brain like that will make returning to your work routine easier. Perhaps it’ll even give you renewed energy for your project.
Play
Not electronic games. Interactive games.
Play like a child. Play with a child (toddler to ten or twelve years old) if there is one in your holiday gathering. Choose unstructured or open-ended play toys like Legos or building blocks or dolls. Let the child dictate the direction of play. Your job is to be creative, like a child.
No children of the right age at your holiday gathering? Play charades or Pictionary or some other game that demands some creativity.
No game players in your group? Grab a notebook and play a game with your creativity. In your particular creative pursuit (writing/art/fabric/knitting/etc.), describe the sights and sounds of the season. Or pretend you’re an over-the-top critic of a specific thing you experience more than once (the taste of wines served with dinner, the lights or other displays around you, the fabrics, etc.). (Avoid criticizing family or friends for obvious reasons!)
The point is to have fun doing something outside your creative comfort zone that exercises your creativity.
Most of All
Allow yourself to be present with your family, your friends, your experiences and your creativity no matter what holiday you celebrate.
Wishing all of you: warmth and safety and peace during this holiday season!
P.S. So I can be present with my family for the Christmas – New Year’s holiday, there will be no blog post next week. I’ll be back again in January!
Image credits: All images purchased from Depositphotos.com
The happiest of Holidays, Lynette, and thank you for these regular posts. I am always refreshed and educated by them. Cheers!
Thank you, Anna! Warmest wishes to you for a happy holiday season!