Getting Ready for the Holidays

Since it is mid-December, the holiday season is in full swing. You may have already put up holiday decorations, started sending out cards, or shopping for gifts. There are lots of fun holiday gatherings coming up too!

As you begin to plan your gatherings, make sure that you aren't over scheduling yourself to the point that you are feeling holiday burn-out. Also, it is important to keep in mind the values of the season, without letting them be overshadowed with commercialism.

The Gift of Time

Especially when you have kids, it can be easy to get caught up in the flurry and stress of gift giving. However, it is important to remember that this is a time to celebrate family, love and giving. Much of the giving comes from our hearts, not in a package.

A few years from now, your kids aren't going to remember that gift they got as much as they will remember the special traditions that you share with them. So, make sure you are incorporating fun for the kids too.

You can bake holiday cookies together, go ice skating, take them to Christmas markets, or go for a drive to look at all the lights together. Activities like this help kids to build memories that revolve around more than Santa and gifts.

With our daughter, we have been lighting Advents candles every week through the holiday season, and it is something that she is coming to love, even though it is a simple tradition. She also loves her advent countdown calendar filled with tiny sweets.

As you are getting ready for the holidays, if you can take time to savor the small moments with your kids, that is something they will always remember: the gift of your time. Giving kids our time, attention and love is as important as giving them gifts under the tree. I hope that you will keep it in mind, as your kids will really appreciate it!

Self-Care

Also, as busy moms, it is important to remember to take some time for self-care during the holidays. Doing something good for yourself will help you stay rejuvenated throughout the holiday season.

In addition to planning activities that the kids will enjoy, be sure to do something that you will enjoy too! Take advantage of all the holiday deals on beauty supplies and give yourself some well-deserved pampering. Or, go out and get a special holiday coffee. You can go on a leisurely walk and look at all the decorations around town.

There are tons of things that you can do to make the holiday season special for yourself as well as focusing on your family. Most of all, making sure to take some time to slow down can benefit both your physical and mental health.

Also, it is important to be sure that you are still drinking enough water at this time of year, as you can easily get dehydrated with the cold, and with increased sugar intake. This is an easy way to improve your health every day.

Enjoy yourself!

Find the activities that you love to do, and do them with joy! If any of the responsibilities or obligations feels like too much over the holidays, it is ok to say no to those invitations that don't feel aligned to your happiness.

It can be difficult if you are dealing with toxic family members, or if you are simply invited to too many gatherings. Don't spread yourself too thin, or you are going to get exhausted.

Remember, this is a time of year for fun, family and whimsy. If there are things that aren't making you feel great about the holiday season, maybe it is time to reevaluate if you should be doing them.

Make sure to take time for the kids, and for yourself this holiday season, and make it one of the best that you have had yet!