Preparing for the Holidays

The days are getting darker. Halloween and Remembrance Day have come and gone. 

You know what that means: the holiday season is upon us.

Now, I’m a huge fan of Christmas, despite being a Christmas baby and it completely messing with my birthday in a lot of ways. But even I get stressed out sometimes by the sheer rush of the holiday season.

And that’s just ONE winter holiday. There are dozens of holidays for different religions and beliefs, and some of them can span days or even weeks.

Whether you are religious, spiritual, or celebrate secular traditions, there can be a lot to do. December has become a time of glaring advertisements, bright lights and decorations everywhere you go, and a million different expectations of what the season should look like.

It’s a lot of pressure.

For many, it involves choosing gifts, going on a manhunt to find said gift, and line up with many others trying to do the same thing. It’s often also a time where families come together - and that isn’t always a happy or positive thing.

So as November draws to a close, if you’re feeling nervous or apprehensive - I hear you. But it’s important to remember a few things:

First and foremost: the holiday season is what you make it.

Between TV ads, window decorations, and your own family traditions, it can be easy to get caught up in the “should”s.

You need to stop and reflect on what you want this time to mean. What’s important to you? 

Are you stressing about a family dinner because you want to host it, or is it something that you’re doing because you feel obligated? 

How much is that gift worth to you or its recipient if it’s going to significantly impact you financially?

December can also be especially difficult if you don’t have a Hallmark family - and by that, I mean the stuff you see in the movies. A “loving”, nuclear-type family who comes together no matter what and enjoys it, with traditions going back generations. 

Seeing those movies and ads can be extremely difficult - trust me, I’ve been there personally. It can feel like a slap in the face, or as something that you should be striving for.

But here’s the thing: it’s not real.

And the more you try to compare yourself to an unrealistic expectation, the less likely your holiday is going to be something positive.

If you want to share the day but don’t have family, try something different this year!

Reach out to friends or even neighbours.

Or try volunteering in your community. 

Ty different approaches to the holiday until you find something that truly works for you, and then build that tradition from there.

Keeping up with the Jones’ will only leave you broke, disgruntled, and disappointed. 

So take this upcoming holiday season one step at a time.

Re-attune yourself to your priorities, and then go from there.

There will be stress at times, so make sure to practice self-care and be patient with yourself

You’ve got this.

Happy Holidays!