How to enjoy the Holidays as a mom
Because let’s be honest… often we don’t get to enjoy it, it’s rather overwhelming and exhausting.
I’m not going to give you exact tools to enjoy the Holidays more, but I will help you to see things differently so if you want, you can enjoy it with less stress and overwhelm.
Christmas is really around the corner, and I not only see it from the lights and decorations but from all the less festive things piling up in front of me.
Feeling overwhelmed even before the Holidays? Me too. No wonder.
As the Holidays are approaching, I got 2* much emails from the school for example…
asking for donations, volunteering
sending info about a bake sale, Christmas market, kids’ artwork
sending instructions for PJday, Christmas jumper day, LetsFuptheparentsevenmoreinafunnyFupwayDAY…
come to Christmas show, but don’t forget to bring XYZ not forgetting allergies
While… I also try to plan and buy everyone’s presents…
Do I have everything ready?
Did I buy everything I wanted or.. have I missed someone?
When will I wrap…? (I should before the holiday starts)
While I’m preparing the festive menu in my head and writing the grocery list so I can cook and bake everything I want.
While I’m also working and trying to balance everything so I can be OFF, truly OFF for the holiday season.
I could go on and on for a while, but you know very well what I’m talking about.
And on the top of all of it: When Christmas comes… You will be more exhausted and overstimulated than ever, falling under the Christmas tree after preparing it all. Then when you could enjoy the Holidays, you would feel exhausted and overwhelmed, trying to make everyone happy and creating the magic for the kids. You might face extra expectations from family, “shoulding” youself into visits, Fcking up kids’ routine and then dealing with overstimulated kids at the end of day.
Ok I seriously stop here, because I can also feel the anxiety rising by imagining this scenario. :D
So what’s the alternative? How not to get sucked in by it all?
How to enjoy the Holidays as a mom?
3 magic tip ;) (still giving you sort of tools:D)
LESS IS MORE
REST WITHOUT GUILT
CHOOSE YOUR WAY OF FUN
1, Less is More
It’s true for the preparation and also for the Holidays. Let go of things… (Don’t do elf on the shelf LOL, sorry), lower your own expectations. Don’t go for things just because the “SHOULD”… you can drop professional photoshoots, matching PJs, pile of presents. Do less. Create space. Enjoy what IS and do things only from WANT not “should”.
It means for me this year that I limit myself to 2 cakes, and we already bought 1 or 2 presents per person. That’s it. I don’t feel the pressure to do more, I can plan my days spaciously (until the kids will be home and then survival mode:D)
2, Rest without guilt
Resting is just as important as doing, preparing. Make sure you don’t get too exhausted by the time Christmas arrives. And then during the Holidays, sit the F down. No you don’t have to prepare another dish, no you don’t have to jump on another roleplay… you can also ask for timeout and simply sit the F down. You can also just order the Christmas menu. Whatever feels like yummy relaxation for You.
With this I can help you fairly quickly. We can reprogram your brain if you have trouble with resting without guilt. Book a change session HERE.
3, Choose your way of fun
Watch out here, because our conditioning is so deep to serve and please others that it can be a tricky one.
It’s so fun and heartwarming to see the kids’ joy and play with them and spend the time how they want… but it can be also overstimulating and overwhelming. It’s OK. You’re not a bad mom.
So the trick here… is to also include your way of FUN. Wanna have a girls’ night between Christmas and New Year? Do it. Wanna have a bath in silence while dad takes them out…? Ask for it, do it. Want to have a bit of a time alone to avoid overstimulation? Let’s go. Go for a short walk, to the gym, dance in your room… You’re not less of a good mom just because you want a break or also to enjoy a few minutes away from the kids. The holiday season can be intense and overstimulating, bring some FUN (your way) into it.
In nutshell? Focus also on yourself and don’t be a martyr mama. Your kids want to spend time with their happy, joyful mom.
So don’t stretch yourself into a nerve wrack, but focus only on the essentials, only on the things you WANT to have for the holidays.
I now push back on requests, don’t give a F about another request from school and I prepare my nervous system with more silence and goodies so I can better survive the loud days coming. :D
Focus on yourself too, focus on your energy, focus on your rest and be ready to drop certain things, let go of extras, set boundaries and choose what feels the best for You.
If it feels weird/hard… it can simply be because of our conditioning. Now you know. Test it, play with it… Ask yourself regularly what do You want. I can surely help with changing those programs in your brain. See you next year for coaching:)
Happy Holidays my friend, see you in 2025.