Forget the Excesses and Celebrate More Simply This Year

No question that holidays are stressful, with shopping, spending, socializing and sharing spaces with family and friends. Just imagine how different this year could be if you take a simpler approach. 

Ever try to create the perfect holiday with the perfect gifts, perfect family, perfect meals? And how did that work out? Inevitably, something ruins your perfectly planned celebration: your mom thinks the gift you bought is too expensive, long-simmering family tensions boil over, the dinner rolls get burnt or the cat spazzes out and knocks over the perfectly decorated tree. This year, pare back both your expectations and your planning to enjoy a more relaxed holiday season. 

Go with the Flow 

• Accept the imperfect. Instead of a rigid to-do list, just write a few overall planning notes and see what works when that day arrives.
• Say a simple yes or no to invitations. If it feels fun and memorable, then go and enjoy. If it feels like a drag, just decline politely. No need for excuses. 
• Leave time for you. Gift yourself moments of time to recharge your batteries amidst the hustle and bustle. Do the things you like to do, whether it’s wandering through thrift stores, working in your sketch book or hanging with a friend. 
• Invite others to get in on the action. Give everyone a role—decorating the front porch, baking cookies, grocery shopping or wrapping, and let whatever happens, happen! It will all work out, if you right-size your expections. 

Spend Consciously 

• Quality over quantity. Lots of ideas are meaningful and useful, instead of expensive. Think family history book, soup mixes in a jar or a local museum membership. 
• Thoughtfulness is appreciated. Show them that you’re thinking of them! Perhaps you vacation in Maine and can pick up pure maple syrup for everyone or you visited Oregon and found beautiful jars of marionberry jam. 
• Share the Christmas spirit. Instead of material gifts, consider donations to favorite causes and charities in family members’ names. 
• Happiness is handmade. Use your skills to make a gift—hand-painted pet portrait, patchwork doll quilt, wooden cutting board or your famous babka, the recipient will think of you each time they see or enjoy it.  

Rethink Movement 

• Be flexible with exercise routines. If you can’t make it to the gym over the holidays, dig out your resistance bands, try online workout videos or listen to a meditation.  
• Better together. Get the family moving with something they’ll all love—a family room dance party, an ice-skating session or a snowball fight.  
• Explore the outdoors. Mix it up and try something different. In cold climes, take a winter hike, give showshoeing a try or find a snow tubing run. In warm winter areas, rent a scooter, bike through a park or design a workout circuit in your backyard. 
• Get your game on. Create a holiday scavenger hunt through a park or your neighborhood and get the whole family involved. Or sign up your family for a charity run or walk. 

Smart Eating 

• Keep expectations in check. “Hold the line” is an admirable goal when you’re surrounded by holiday delicacies for weeks on end. 
• Take your time. Because of the abundance of delicious dishes and luscious desserts you’ll find at gatherings, remember to savor every bite slowly. 
• Do yourself a favor. Make something you love that fits your wellness journey, whether that’s everyday cooking at home or a party you attend. Or search online for healthier versions of favorite dishes. 
• Focus on non-food indulgences. Boost your mood with these positive alternatives: a new pair of fuzzy socks, a pine-scented candle, a faster phone charger or a rock-star fragrance.