Now’s the time to proactively take some simple, readily attainable steps to make the upcoming holiday weeks something to savor and enjoy instead of “simple surviving”.
There’s nothing to follow that falls into the rocket-science level of thought, and while no doubt some of our readers are holiday season ninjas, handling the stress and frenzy of the holidays without batting an eye or breaking a sweat, there’s a useful pearl or two below for the rest of us.
Simplify (Everything)
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
– Albert Einstein
A trusted mentor years ago sat back in his chair as we sipped coffee after an early morning breakfast, and said something close to this, “…if there’s one thing I could impart to you from all the time we’ve spent working together, it would be to simplify your life. Simplify, simplify, simplify…”
My friend was also a physician, and we’d recently left busy, successful practices to together start a new practice model, the first of its kind for our specialty in the entire state (Utah) at the time. I don’t remember all the precise details of our conversation, but I’d been complaining about all the seemingly endless onslaught of ‘must do’ tasks that our new startup engendered, and how it was impacting time with my young children and my other love, fly fishing.
The call to simplify of course fits perfectly with the tsunami of activities we all face during the holiday window at year’s close. I personally find the call to simplification quite liberating, opening the door to not pursue perceived perfection (events, food, gifting, and so on) but think out of the box, uncouple from (at least some) burdensome traditions, and engage with friends and family in the moment.
One easy way to simplify? Put down your damned phone, and take a several week hiatus from social media. Watch out, you’ll probably find that social media isn’t doing anything useful for you, and never go back…
Creatively Meal Plan and Cook Ahead
For many aspiring primal and ancestral eaters, the holidays present a particular challenge when it comes to making optimal choices to fuel their bodies for the activities of the day. Carb bingeworthy, insulin-spiking treats seem to pop up everywhere, and many feel undue peer or family pressure to participate.
One simple practice that’s revolutionized the way my wife and approach our meals is to plan out our menu a week or ten days at a time. I like to do this at a time during the day when my creative and planning processes are firing on all cylinders (somewhat ironically, that’s almost always in a fasted state for me). Thinking through our favorite meals in the rotation and planning their timing according to our schedules (and even the weather forecast) shuffles all the “what should we eat decision making” into one convenient window, and saves significant time (and stress) during the week.
Our adult daughter from Montana is joining us for the week around Christmas; she’s been keto now for several weeks, and we’ve already planned out a deliciously tasty and largely keto compliant menu for her stay. Yep, there’s one not-quite-keto dessert planned, but we’ll be 97% on target (give or take a percent) otherwise.
Easy peasy, and I’ll even cook Christmas Eve’s Boeuf Bourguignon a few days ahead (it only gets better).
Cling to Your Wellness Routines, Especially Exercise and Sleep
I know, I know, this one is easier said than done, particularly if you’re in a part of the country where winter has already locked the countryside in its icy grip. Be uncompromising about your regular workouts, and perhaps it’s now time this month to treat yourself to that extra yoga class or extended hour or two in the gym/on the slopes/on the road.
Most of us, given the drastically shortened day length in December (solstice on the 21st!), feel the circadian tug to sleep longer this time of year. Don’t fight it, and there will be an event or two this month that you need to forgo to recharge your own sleep batteries.
Just do it.
Shift Mental Gears on Gifting
Probably the most cherished Christmases we experienced with both of our children at home were the years we decided as a family to hand-make all gifts. The first time we did this our kids were late-elementary school age, and we were amazed at how creative they were, and how invested they became in the process.
It’s purely my opinion, but I’d argue anywhere, anytime that the best gifts we can give are gifts from the heart, markedly personal, and (keeping with my theme) often beautifully simple. Don’t shop just to “shop and find the perfect gift”. This might just be the year when you buy/make gifts in batches (ornaments, a primal/paleo/ancestral food treat – get creative here, candles, and so on…).
Be a Crafty Scheduler: Who, When, and Where
For many, time demands escalate dramatically during the holiday season, sometimes to the point of being ludicrous. We try to approach social demands during the holiday pragmatically; there are events that are ‘must do’, we try and make those as fun as possible and invest time wisely.
There are, however, always a flock of event invitations, some no doubt by winsome folks and worthy organizations, that for what ever reason, that don’t resonate with you or present a conflict or unnecessary drain of time, effort, or holiday cheer. Don’t hesitate to say ‘no thanks’; saying no can be very empowering, gets easier the more you do it, and you need to be making the best choices with your time you possibly can. Choose the best (over the good and not so good) for you and yours this season.
Make This Month Fun
It’s amazing to me how many people look and feel stressed and harried this time of year. Seeing someone, a couple, or a group of friends, talking, laughing – obviously having real fun – is something of rarity it seems.
Have a friend or family member who always make you smile and laugh? Make a special effort to spend time with them in the next few weeks. Carve out time every week to do something you really enjoy, crank up your favorite music, and invest time with people you care about and love.
Cultivate a Sense of Gratitude
There’s a remarkable body of scientific work that’s been collected detailing the health benefits related to perceiving a sense of gratitude. We’ll delve into the science of gratitude, and its impacts on human physiology and the human psyche in detail in coming months; here’s a decent recent summary with links to pertinent research if you’re skeptical.
For many this time of year invokes a spiritual connection; if you’re one of those, embrace it, and revel in the time of celebration and fellowship. (We’ll spend some time this next year looking at the impressive health benefits of spiritual practice…)
For some, looking at life through a lens of gratitude and appreciation isn’t one that they understand well, nor is it one they’ve practiced often. It doesn’t matter, your gratitude capacity grows markedly with repeated use; start flexing those gratitude muscles today, and keep it up through the busy holidays (and beyond).
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