This post is sponsored by Jersey Mike’s but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I have really been looking forward to the holiday season. For some reason every time we purchase a new home, I always fast forward to what our life is going to look like during the holiday season. I walk through our halls and envision twinkling lights decorating the hallway and make plans for the placement of our 8-foot tree. It’s something that I really look forward to and for good reason. The holidays mean so much to us. It’s a season to come together as a family and embrace the wonder, beauty and true meaning of the season. It’s also a time when we get to be reminded of how important it is to practice gratitude and celebrate with those we love.
Sometimes, however, there is so much pressure to meet all of the expectations of the season. There’s pressure to attend every single event and the spark and the joy that comes with the season is lost because we allow ourselves to get wrapped up in the nonessentials. This leads to us spending the entire season chasing an ideal that we have created for ourselves rather than in embracing the true meaning of the season as well as the here and now.
I wish I could say I was an expert at this. I am not, but every year I try to set intentions that keep me grounded and help me find my way back to the truth and therefore, allowing me to fully embrace the holiday.
Today I’m sharing them with you!
1. Set your intentions every morning – This is a practice and has really helped me set my mind on my priorities for the day. When it comes to the holidays, one of my intentions is to focus on the true meaning of the holidays. I take a deep breath;
I read a few chapters of the Christmas story, write down a few things I’m grateful for and set my intention to remember on the true meaning of the season. This way I start my day knowing that if my heart and mind are focused on the truth, then I am able to remain grounded regardless of what comes my way.
2. Embrace the season – I have a tendency to look forward to the next big thing. Because of my current job, I’m always having to think about the next trend and create content based on what’s coming up rather than embracing our current season. As a content creator, this is fun because I got a chance to plan for the new year before anyone else does, but sometimes it ends up backfiring and sends me on a futile pursuit of the “next big thing.” Along with writing down my intentions for the day, I also practice being present in the moment. I take practical steps to look around, take deep breaths, take mental pictures of what is happening right here, right now and I allow myself to be fully present. That means putting down my phone and spending more time with the kids on the floor. It means baking something special and eating it as a family or sharing it with our neighbors. It means cranking up the music and reminiscing as I look at our ornaments. It’s just my way of being intentional about being fully present.
3. Simplify. This can mean so many things to different people. To me, it means making a list of all the things I have going on and boldly cross some off my list. Not by completing them, but by saying no to them. Sometimes saying no to a commitment during this season opens up the opportunity for me to really invest my time and energy fully on those things that mean the most. During the holidays I say no to extra work, I say no to all of the holiday parties and really embrace my yeses. I also find practical ways of simplifying, like getting one toy for each kid versus 10, keeping our decorations simple, and picking up gift cards rather than shipping big packages. I used to think that gift cards were not as personal, but I have come around to seeing them as one of the most stress-free ways of embracing the season. I think it’s fun when I send a gift card to a friend or family from their favorite restaurant or their favorite store. It’s my way of saying “hey I know you really like this place, so now you can go there more often!” To me, a gift card is just as personal and I not only do I love giving them, but receiving them! These days I am sending gift cards to some of my family’s favorite restaurants and stores, as well as their favorite sub place. Jersey Mike’s Subs Gift Cards are a great stress-free holiday gift. These are perfect for college students, Sunday school teachers, secret Santa gifts, and hostess gifts. I stock up on Jersey Mike’s Subs Gift Cards and send them out to my family and friends right before the holiday season and they’re always well received.
This season has already been such a good one for us. Our home in Texas is already beautifully decorated and ready to receive all of our friends and family. One thing that is for certain is that this holiday, things will be kept simple and stress-free, but more than anything, they will be full of joy and love! Here’s to having a stress free holiday season!
