5 Ways to Recharge During the Holidays

Coming into the holidays, you’re twice as busy as any other time of year. You have work/career commitments, year end deliverables, shopping, decorating, family commitments, holiday networking and more. By the time you’re through, it can be hard to actually enjoy the holidays.

But taking time to relax and recharge is crucial to taking on the New Year with the energy and enthusiasm it deserves.

So, if you find the holidays almost more tiring than the lead-up, here are some ways to do things differently this year:

• Share the workload. Yes, you host a beautiful party. Your cookies are superb. Everyone has such a nice time. But spending a week preparing and a week cleaning up may be a greater gift than you should be giving. Draft assistance from friends, family, your spouse, your kids, whoever’s around. Make dinner a potluck, or just assemble a post-party cleaning crew. Make someone else buy the stocking stuffers. You don’t have to carry the weight of holiday expectations alone.
• Make time for contemplation. The holidays are a great time for thinking. Think about what you’re grateful for, the fantastic people in your life, the blessings that you’ve been giving. Think about what this year has brought you, and what you’d like to see in the coming year. Watch the snow fall, if weather permits. You’ll find yourself more at ease, and better able to appreciate the season.
• Create a new tradition. If you’ve been doing the same thing for many years, you may find the holidays blending together. Ask yourself what you want this season — new memories? Closer friendships? A souvenir? Then think about a new activity or tradition that you can put in place. What would your friends/family enjoy? What would shake things up a bit, get people laughing or interacting? Worst case, you don’t do it next year.
• Give. If you’re in a holiday funk, volunteer. Serve food at a soup kitchen. Work at a food pantry. It may seem like just another holiday to-do, but giving of your time, energy and attention can not only be extremely personally rewarding, but it can help you adjust your mindset and release the stress, worry and frustration that can come with the season. There are plenty of great causes that can use your help, and the reward to you will likely be as worthwhile as the help that you provide.
• Be present. A different use of the word for the holiday season — as you go through the season, don’t focus on the next thing that you have to do or the errands that await you. When you’re with your friends or family, be in the moment. Notice the small things — what people wear, their expressions, the flavor of a meal. Even running errands can be a pleasure if you focus on the experience of being there. Do some people watching, and remember the spirit of the season.

And before you take out your holiday stress on the unsuspecting people around you, listen to this:

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Career Adventure will be observing the Christmas holiday starting as soon as I can finish my own errands and to-dos. Posting will resume Monday.

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to Get Unstuck Today to Achieve Your Goals
2. 5 ways to bring focus into your day
3. Your Year in Review: How Will You Rock 2010?
4. Back to School Day 3: 3 Ways to Add Value While Networking
5. The Cost of Commitment: Expectations and Your Personal Brand