A Prescription For Holiday Health
The holidays are approaching. Bowl games, lavish turkey dinners, Christmas parties, tree trimming, New Year's Eve galas. Children and adults alike anticipate the season. If you are the primary domestic doer in your household, however, you may be a little less enthusiastic. No one could blame you–there's a lot to be responsible for.
That's why I'm going to suggest that you make an extra effort to nurture yourself. Yes, I know you'll have a mile-long "To Do" list. I know people are counting on you. I know there won't seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. What better reason to put yourself on that "To Do" list?
Ward Off Festivities Fever. The average person has at least three sources of social interaction: family/friends, job/school, recreation. Add a significant other and/or children and those involvements increase exponentially. It's reasonable to deduce that one holiday event per source would easily overwhelm the calendar. Just as too many sweets will make you sick, too many social commitments will burn you out. Far better to be selective and thoroughly enjoy the few events you do attend.
Watch Out For Elevated Expectations. What happens when we try to transform the house into a photo out of Better Homes and Gardens, labor to create decorations Martha Stewart would envy, plan meals that will have the most refined palate salivating, add everyone, including the babysitter's dog, to our giving list? We can only be disappointed.
There's nothing wrong with wanting spotless, festive, luxurious, gourmet, or generous. But we'll drive ourselves crazy expecting to do it all and do it perfectly. Strive instead for comfortable, meaningful, attractive, delicious, and affordable. The goal is to share love and joy with people who are important to us. Respect your physical, mental, and financial limits.
An Ounce of Organization Is Worth a Pound of Cure. Have a plan. It may seem silly to start planning the holiday menu, updating the card list, and creating a time line of chores and errands. If you can get organized now, though, you'll give yourself the gift of time just when you'll need plenty of it. A slow Friday night? Address card envelopes. Free weekend? Bake Thanksgiving pies and holiday cookies, then freeze them. How many other items on your list can be done ahead? Do them as soon as possible, when time permits. If you haven't over-extended yourself and you keep to your time line, your pace should be manageable. You'll even be able to handle unexpected entertaining or last-minute activities.
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