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How do we thrive through the holidays when our world encourages us to live stressed?
Being versus doing, especially in a season as busy as the pre-Christmas weeks, can leave us depleted. We know we should spend time simply being with Jesus, but our to-do lists drive us to mark them off. Often, this comes at the expense of our health, our sleep, and our sanity.
As I considered how to thrive through the holidays, I pondered what I (we?) can do to maintain a quiet heart in our culture.
Our culture has ripped out the sacred aspect of Christmas as a holy day, degrading it into a chaos-filled holiday. This season has morphed from a time of contemplating Jesus’ birth and His gift of redemption to a time of crazy-busy, frenetic activity, buying, and indulging.
11 How To’s to Help Us Thrive Through the Holidays—Our culture has ripped out the sacred aspect of Christmas as a holy day, degrading it into a chaos-filled holiday. #tellhisstory #Christmas #thriving Click To TweetWhich is what led to last week’s post. I began thinking about “gifts” that help us to thrive through the holidays as we prepare room for Jesus in our hearts on His special day.
Gifts we can give ourselves to thrive through the holidays
Gifts for our Mindset:
Our mindset will determine how well we practice being in this season that pushes us toward doing.
- Be purposeful in the activities we choose for our family. Finding the things we enjoy doing as a family can create great memories and refresh our souls. Decorating the tree together? Driving and viewing Christmas lights? Planning to watch a seasonal exhibit or show? Whatever it is, try to plan at least one activity our families enjoy.
- Focus on those we love. It’s okay to say no to a work party in order to create special memories with our children or those close to us
- Say yes to some things that fill and refresh us. Whatever this looks like, take the time to do something that refills us.
- Let go of non-essentials. I love, love sending and receiving Christmas cards. But some years, our family has had to forego this tradition because everything required to send them would stress me out. Prioritizing our Christmas preparations sometimes requires us to let go of activities we enjoy.
- Lower our expectations. Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you I hold myself to high standards. I’m learning to lower my expectations for all I thought I could accomplish and be for others to ease the burden of stress.
Gifts of Time:
We only have a certain amount of time to spend in this season. Let’s give ourselves gifts by how we spend our time.
- Time spent with Jesus regularly. This is essential! Jesus-time refreshes our spirits and renews our perspective for each day.
- Get enough sleep. When I deprive myself of sleep, I become short-tempered and stressed out more quickly. We should aim for seven-to-eight hours a night as often as we can.
- Plan ahead so that, in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, what we do can be purpose-motivated. When we move into this season with a plan, we feel more peace and less stress.
- Plan flexibility into our season. Be okay with saying no to an activity if there are other, family-important considerations. Or, if the thought of adding one more wonderful thing adds a sense of overwhelm in our thoughts and hearts.
- Downtime. Especially when we feel tattered, we need to take time to refresh. This may look like sitting with a cup of something hot and reading the Bible. A nap, watching a movie, or another activity that refreshes us will restore a sense of peace in our hearts.
And finally, set boundaries around our time. Let’s prayerfully prioritize what’s most important. Determine ahead of time that we will not push those aside because of:
- what others expect of us, or
- what we feel obligated to add on later. Evaluate each additional activity by what’s most important.
“Important things” may include activities we want to experience with our family, lessons we desire our children to learn this time of year, and fun memories we want to make (our priority list should help us see this).
If the possible commitment doesn’t meet our criteria, it’s okay to say no.
Conclusion
One final thought on giving ourselves permission to live in these gifts . . . when we choose to say no, especially when we’ve prayed about our response, we need to trust that we are doing the right thing. Guilt wants to drive us. But, God doesn’t intend for us to live in guilt. If guilt tries to creep into our thoughts and hearts, we need to ask God for His perspective. He doesn’t call us to live stressed, He invites us to live trusting His plans . . . even when they oppose others’ plans.
As we venture further into the Christmas season, let’s take time to pray and evaluate what God’s priorities are for us. There will be some activities and tasks we want or need to do, but let’s allow our Father to be our filter. Then we can maintain a sense of being during this doing-oriented season.
What about you? What helps you thrive through the holidays? Do you have items to add to my list?
Most weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
You’ve shared so many good thoughts, Jeanne. Enough sleep, flexibility and down time are all important to my ability to function this time of year, and especially THIS year. I’ve been wanting to write some end-of-year blog posts all week, but wonky feelings have persisted so instead, I’ve been concentrating on regular household stuff and getting Christmas presents purchased and wrapped. It also helps to talk things out with empathetic friends. 🙂
Lois, thank you for your encouraging words. Those wonky feelings can be hard to ignore or set aside. Focusing on regular household responsibilities can be very healthy for us. I’ll be praying for you as your family enters into the Christmas season this year. Empathetic friends are amazing! 😉
I love all these helpful tips, especially the gifts for our mindset, Jeanne. We so desperately need it in this time where “Our culture has ripped out the sacred aspect of Christmas as a holy day, degrading it into a chaos-filled holiday.” Thank you! Love and blessings to you!
Thank you, Trudy. God continues to remind me about the importance of maintaining a good mindset. And there are days I need to realign my mindset to His. May we hold dearly the sacred aspects of Christmas!
Jeanne, I’m jumping on late this week because I’ve lowered my expectations about what I can get done on time (ok that’s a play on your tips). I love them, by the way. My other favorites are focus on your loved ones, and let go of non-essentials, and plan flexibility (or at least don’t allow changes to send me off the deep end). I found your post very helpful.
Suzette, you’re not late at all. 🙂 Grinning, I’m glad you lowered your expectations! The older I grow, the more I realize the gifts I receive when I get to spend time with my family/the people I love. I’m so glad you found this post helpful!
Jeanne, thanks for your linkup. Several of the posts here blessed me, especially “Aging with Hope.”
Thanks for your kind words and for taking time to read the various posts. That’s such an encouragement to hear!
I want to live in every one of His good gifts!
Me too, Susan!
They’re here, the bloody holidays,
carols, lights, and warm Yule log,
but they will not get my praise
because I’ve got a dying dog.
I sit by her, can only pray
and remember better times,
wish to hell that she.might stay
to keep my heart in warmer climes,
but the Lord is always right,
and I go by what’s ordained,
though in this wan pale fading light
of suffering, my faith is strained
by the bright clear memory
that I pray reflects eternity.
Andrew, I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. I’m praying for you and Barb and the other dogs. There are no perfect words for loss. Just know I continue to pray for you all. My heart is with you, friend.
Yes! So easily we fall into the absolute craziness that the world sees as celebration and especially in this beautiful season.
I like to keep it beautiful and serene. Thank you for these great ideas.
What works for me is having gifts & arrangements done ahead of time. So it’s a joy & not a task.
Bless you Jeanne,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I like keeping this season beautiful and serene too. Have you found that can look very different from year to year? I like your idea of planning ahead so it’s a joy and not a task. Thanks for sharing this!
Absolutely Jeanne! ☺️
Well said, friend.
Aww, thanks.
Ahh, Jeanne, great ideas for rest for the weary soul at this time of year. I appreciated your practical ideas very much for how to not only survive this crazy time but by prioritizing what’s important, really thrive .
Kathy, thanks for your encouragement. Thriving through this season is my goal this year. 🙂
Yes, and amen. So easily we fall into the craziness that the world stirs up all of the time and especially in this beautiful season. I want to keep it beautiful and peaceful. Thanks for these great tips, thoughts, ideas.
Linda, I’ve definitely been one who has tumbled into the craziness of the season and come out tattered on the other side. I’m with you, desiring to keep it beautiful and peaceful.
Oh there’s all kinds of helpful goodies, here, Jeanne. For some reason, the words ‘purpose’ and ‘focus’ seem to be rattling around between mind and heart in this season. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone.
Merry Christmas, friend …
Linda, I’m glad you found some goodies. 🙂 I agree. Being purposeful in how we prepare for and celebrate Jesus and focusing on Him first makes such a difference, doesn’t it? Merry Christmas to you too, sweet friend!
I’m trying to let go of some non-essentials. I didn’t put out all my decorations and I’m sending less cards. Lowering my expectations is also key, especially this year when we may hit an all-time low anyway. Thanks for these reminders to give to ourselves too as we observe this sacred season.
Lisa, lowering expectations makes it easier for us to not become overwhelmed and stressed. I’ll be praying for you with all the “hard” this season is holding. May God meet you and minister to your heart in His perfect ways.
Your line, “He doesn’t call us to live stressed,” leapt out at me. Whatever it takes to make my life NOT stressed is what I want to do.
Jerralea, that line really stood out to me too. I’m working toward reducing stress too. I hope God shows you the perfect-for-you ways to reduce stress this Christmas season!
“….but let’s allow our Father to be our filter.” I love that line, Jeanne! May He be our guidance in every season! I tend to be able to let things go when higher priorities take precedence. However, I do not always feel peace about letting those things go, and am working on not being so hard on myself. Also, it’s a time to trust God’s ‘filter’ of what is important in this season and to trust His timing on all things.
Lynn, it’s hard to let things go sometimes! I tend to be hard on myself too. May this be a Christmas season where we are generous with grace for ourselves as we follow God’s lead.
I love this season when I keep it manageable. Putting first things first makes all the difference. Thanks for your tips. Love the snowy photo.
Deb, I’m so with you. I love the season when I’ve chosen wisely and haven’t overdone via commitments and good intentions. 🙂 I hope you find many moments to rest and enjoy this season!
Excellent “how tos” Jeanne for stress free holidays. The “non-essentials” trip me up every year, I like your perspective on putting these in their proper place!
Donna, I’ve had so many years when the non-essentials have tripped me up too. We have to be so intentional about what we decide is essential, don’t we? I hope your Christmas season holds much rest and joy.
The world does encourage us to live stressed. For Christmas and even every day. Building rest and relaxation into the schedule is so important so I can focus on the real reason for Christmas. I love one article I read that said creating memories around Christmas for the kids is cumulative. It happens over time because you can’t do everything every year. So, focus on one or two memory makers each year. Like matching PJs one year. A crazy holiday picture another year. And Another year something else. This made a lot of sense. We don’t look back and say everything happened when I turned 5. Our memories are spread out over time.
Theresa, yes and amen to building rest and relaxing into the Christmas season. It’s important to remember that building memories IS a cumulative endeavor. Thanks for sharing this insight!
I want to approach Christmas 2021 with a kind of soul minimalism that avoids the frenzy and embraces the peace and Joy of simple gifts. Praying to that end…
I like the idea of avoiding frenzy and embracing the peace and joy of simple gifts. 🙂
The father of guilt is the devil, so it’s very important not to let guilt drive us! I’m a Christmas minimalist (it’s easier to do this when the nest is empty). We often travel at Christmas, so I don’t decorate. I stopped sending out cards and newsletters when I started blogging, since people can keep up with me through the blog or on social media. I’d rather spend time with family doing fun things—-baking cookies, sledding, cross-country skiing, or making lefse.
Yes, Anita. We really have to stop guilt before it gets a hold of our hearts and thoughts, don’t we? I love that title: Christmas minimalist. I love how each family finds the best way for them to celebrate Jesus’ coming!
Great tips. Often our choices aren’t between good and bad, but better and best. There are so many things that could be done this time of year, we need to be prayerful and purposeful about our activities so we keep the right focus and don’t get stressed out..
Yes, Barbara, you’re so right. Our choices are often between better and best. When we pray to determine what God says is best, we will find more peace and the right focus in this season.