2015 was a challenging year for me. I made a career change that required a commute in LA traffic that basically amounted to the number of hours most people spend at their part time jobs! The additional road time and the learning curve of a new position ate into a lot of the creative things I loved doing like this blog and the band. In addition, a time consuming home improvement project I was ill equipped to tackle, also ate the entire weekends of about five months of the year!
When the holiday season rolled around, the last thing I wanted to deal with was additional stress. Decorating, gifts and planning for my annual Christmas Eve open house, seemed daunting. Rather than work myself into the emotional frenzy I have in past years, I decided to try to de-stress the whole process as much as possible. Here are a few tips I came up with:
EVERY HOLIDAY DECORATION I OWN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PUT UP:
This accomplished two things. Less decorating time and a less cluttered look. Next year, maybe I will do a little more, but I have found I rather like things looking a little less full.
IF SOMETHING WAS TOO HARD TO PUT UP, I PUT IT AWAY:
Last year I spent two hours trying to hang lights and Christmas beads around a table fountain in the living room. This year I solved that problem by putting the fountain outside! Since rain is planned for Christmas Eve and that is when the majority of folks will see my house, I also didn’t do any backyard decorating. Best saved for when I am not in a job that requires getting up at 500am and returning home at 800pm!
I ONLY SENT HOLIDAY CARDS SENT TO PEOPLE I WILL NOT SEE DURING THE HOLIDAYS:
This one I actually started a couple of years ago. I remember when I worked at a credit union actually sitting down one year and making out almost 100 cards. To people I would be seeing all through the holiday season. Cards are great if you have the time, but if not, save it for the people you won’t be able to wish happy holidays in person.
KEEP THE HYPE IN PERSPECTIVE:
When Norman Rockwell did those great family paintings, women didn’t have jobs outside the home. Forget trying to make that picture happen. Truth be told, those families probably didn’t even like each other very much! It really is about the people, the music and the laughter. Not how perfect the turkey looks! So make it a happy holiday season. Not just for everyone else. But also for yourself!
When the holiday season rolled around, the last thing I wanted to deal with was additional stress. Decorating, gifts and planning for my annual Christmas Eve open house, seemed daunting. Rather than work myself into the emotional frenzy I have in past years, I decided to try to de-stress the whole process as much as possible. Here are a few tips I came up with:
EVERY HOLIDAY DECORATION I OWN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PUT UP:
This accomplished two things. Less decorating time and a less cluttered look. Next year, maybe I will do a little more, but I have found I rather like things looking a little less full.
IF SOMETHING WAS TOO HARD TO PUT UP, I PUT IT AWAY:
Last year I spent two hours trying to hang lights and Christmas beads around a table fountain in the living room. This year I solved that problem by putting the fountain outside! Since rain is planned for Christmas Eve and that is when the majority of folks will see my house, I also didn’t do any backyard decorating. Best saved for when I am not in a job that requires getting up at 500am and returning home at 800pm!
I ONLY SENT HOLIDAY CARDS SENT TO PEOPLE I WILL NOT SEE DURING THE HOLIDAYS:
This one I actually started a couple of years ago. I remember when I worked at a credit union actually sitting down one year and making out almost 100 cards. To people I would be seeing all through the holiday season. Cards are great if you have the time, but if not, save it for the people you won’t be able to wish happy holidays in person.
KEEP THE HYPE IN PERSPECTIVE:
When Norman Rockwell did those great family paintings, women didn’t have jobs outside the home. Forget trying to make that picture happen. Truth be told, those families probably didn’t even like each other very much! It really is about the people, the music and the laughter. Not how perfect the turkey looks! So make it a happy holiday season. Not just for everyone else. But also for yourself!
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