Reworking Your Holiday Routine
If you are anything like me, after I designed my routine as I described in the article “How To Create A Stay At Home Mom Schedule That You’ll Actually Stick To”, I began to DREAD the upcoming holiday season because I didn’t want to compromise the mental peace that I’ve become so fond of.
Waking up at 5am won’t cut it when you’re up until 3am playing cards and drinking eggnog. There goes your alone time, there goes your essential self-care you need to properly make it through the day.
I’m sure you’ve told yourself that “This is just how holidays are” and “there’s nothing I can do about it“. Girl, why are you trying to suffer through Jesus’ birthday? We are supposed to be celebrating and rejoicing that our Savior has been born! Today, I’m going to share with you a few tips for adjusting your holiday routine, so you don’t have to throw your peace of mind out of the window for the month of December.
Utilize Relatives
Note how I said “utilize” and not “use”. Most of us are looking for rest during the holidays, but to steal a quick 15 minutes after breakfast by asking Grandpa if he would keep an eye on the little ones for you is a great place to start. It may be too much to ask him to adequately take care of your toddler AND newborn, though. Or, if you have a relative or two you know can handle some of that stress, let them know you need to take a moment to recuperate and see if you can sneak away for an hour. Taking advantage of the full house is literally what the family is there for!
Holiday Routine Pivoting
Ok, so your day is starting at 10am instead of 5am. First things first, DON’T panic.
You’re good, they’re good, there is nothing wrong with pivoting for a month or so. You know the value of the regular routine you have and you know you will go back to it when the company is gone!
The first adjustment to try is to change the time you are doing said routine. If the mornings aren’t working, try the evening, if the evening doesn’t work, try the afternoon. If none of those are working, that is ok. There are more options!
The second thing to do is to break up your routine within reason. If you’re used to going for a 30-minute walk each day, break it up into 2 15-minute walks. With that said, don’t break it down too far. Going for 15 2-minute walks isn’t necessarily helpful or sustainable.
If both of those suggestions aren’t working for you, you need to take the time to give your holiday routine a complete redesign for the short season. This means putting the use of your current routine on hold and replacing it with a brand-new holiday routine. This doesn’t have to be scary! Think of your routine as if it were a bucket of Legos. You can use the same pieces to create two completely different objects, and that is exactly what you are going to do.
Take inventory of the pieces you have. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is necessary during this holiday season?
- How does this action serve me?
- How does this serve my family?
- What do I already have time for, and what do I need to make time for?
- What are my non-negotiable self-care items?
- Why is it so important that I create a holiday routine?
Let Go Of The Guilt
Reality check: Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we fail.
We don’t nail the perfect holiday routine, we don’t have a peaceful holiday, we fall out of our habits, and we let the unnecessary expectations of the holiday season get to us.
Did you know that you’re going to be ok regardless of the outcome?
Did you know that God still loves you if you don’t accomplish everything you set your mind to this holiday season?
I didn’t know this for a very long time. I thought anytime I had failed I had completely and utterly destroyed myself, the creation He had been working so hard on. As I grew older and learned more about how He really loves, I’ve come to understand that I am enough despite what I do. He created me to be enough regardless of my productivity.
I’m going to leave you with this; do your best.
Try hard. Go all in this holiday and do everything He is calling you to do to keep the holiday peace in your family. But if you fail, don’t guilt yourself for not being perfect. There is only one perfect human in our entire history and that is Jesus. As much as we strive to be like him, we aren’t God, and we shouldn’t try to be. Get busy celebrating His birth instead!
Your Holiday Routine Resources
Click this link to watch a free Holiday Harmony training from Coach Regan Clement!
Rising Tide Fellowship Founder and Life Coach Regan Clement will teach you how to:
- Manage destructive thoughts that wreak havoc on your peace
- Let go of overcommitting by setting realistic expectations and standards
- Stop people-pleasing by learning to communicate your standards and needs respectfully
Make this holiday season different – one full of authentic moments, REAL peace, and joy.
Until next time,
Audye
Quit Settling for Less
If you are a woman who refuses to settle for less than their unique God-given design, book a free 30-minute consultation session with me.
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