'Tis the Season

Isn’t it funny how we imagine the holiday season? Slow mornings sipping coffee in our cute Christmas PJs and quiet evenings sitting by the fireplace, bathed in the warm glow of the Christmas tree lights, sipping hot cocoa (with just the right amount of marshmallows), watching It’s a Wonderful Life—or Elf, because let’s be honest, that’s what’s actually on in my house. There is a general sense of peace and goodwill toward all mankind.

And then there’s reality. We are actually existing in the Twilight Zone that appears between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A time warp where days blur together into a chaotic montage of rushed errands, event after event, party after party, concert after concert. Everything is fun. Everything is festive. And everything is exhausting.

Somewhere in there, self-care quietly packs its bags and leaves town.

We’re not sleeping on our normal schedule. We’re eating like trash pandas, surviving on sugar, carbs, and alcohol in truly impressive quantities. And then we all look around mid-December, shocked, shocked, that everyone is run down, cranky, and mysteriously coming down with the flu.

How could this have happened?

Now don’t get me wrong, holiday events can be wonderful. I love a good competitive gingerbread house contest as much as the next person. But it seems like the season starts to lose its luster when we cram it so full of activities that we don’t even notice that half the lights on the tree don’t actually light up.

The other morning, as I was gearing up for yet another busy day, I caught myself wondering, Would I actually enjoy the holidays more if I was a little more selective? What if I didn’t let FOMO run my entire life for the month of December?

If I’m being brutally honest, the traffic, parking, and crowds of people aren’t that fun. And maybe, just maybe, I’d enjoy myself just as much (or more) driving through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights instead of spending $200 to fight crowds while holding an overpriced cup of watered-down cocoa.

I’m not being a Grinch. I’m just wondering if unscheduling, if slowing down, might actually give me the holiday spirit I’ve been yearning for. Or maybe I’ve finally learned what the Grinch discovered in the end: Christmas can’t be bought in a store. Maybe Christmas… is so much more.

If You’re Feeling Frazzled, Try This

A few realistic tips to help you keep both your Christmas spirit and your sanity:

• Prioritize sleep. As much as possible, stick to a routine. Sleep deprivation is not a festive look.

• Prioritize protein. In the middle of the carb-loaded sugar fest, eat some protein beforehand, or choose the pig in a blanket over the cookie. Balance, people!

• Schedule downtime. Yes, actually put it on your calendar. This prevents accidental over-scheduling, accidental burnout and the inevitable "Menty-B" that might go viral.

• Ask one simple question before saying yes: Is this something I really want to do, or something I feel like I have to do?

  
  

This season, why not skip some of the hustle and bustle? Why not have a quiet night at home with movies, cocoa, and board games? Why not give the gift of presence, to yourself and the people you love?

Because maybe the holiday magic isn’t in doing more.

Maybe it’s in finally doing less.