The holidays are nearly upon us, and with the festivities can come a lot of stress – from purchasing gifts to putting up decorations and planning family gatherings. As a full-time working mother managing shifts in the emergency room, leading my nonprofit, L.I.F.E., and spending time with family and friends – I know how difficult it can be to manage the additional pressures of the holidays.
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Here are my three top tips for maintaining your well-being and enjoying your best holiday season yet.
1. Learn to delegate.
For much of my life, I was a people pleaser and wanted to do everything myself, but after a physical injury stopped me from being able to do things like decorate or lift heavy groceries I was forced to learn how to delegate, and I wish I would have started sooner. I find hiring professionals not only takes stress from me so I can better enjoy my life and be present in the moment, but it also supports others who need work – whether it’s a professional decorating company transforming my home for Halloween or Christmas, picking up holiday dishes from a local restaurant or hiring a student helping me with grocery shopping. You can also delegate things to your family. Some ideas include asking your teenager to address holiday cards or asking your husband to cook dinner. This also benefits your children by setting a positive example and teaching them how to be self-sufficient.
2. Learn to say no to what you don’t find fulfilling.
One of the positives to come from the painful experience that is the COVID-19 pandemic, is a chance to re-evaluate what really brings us joy, especially during the holidays. If you’re finding tasks on your holiday to-do list that you can’t delegate, and don’t particularly care about, don’t feel obligated to do them just because it’s a tradition. For example, I’ve learned I don’t particularly care if I sent holiday cards out. I also used to spend my days off grocery shopping and preparing an elaborate home-cooked meal for my family but recognized that I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and it wasn’t something my family really appreciated. Now, instead we spend time together going out to eat and enjoying each other’s company. It provides the same benefits as a family dinner, but I no longer feel completely depleted at the end of my day off. This also goes for family events – I used to feel like I had to see all our family and friends on Thanksgiving, but now we spread out our family and social obligations over the week so everyone can spend quality time together and feel less stressed. And if you find that certain people in your life leave you feeling negatively, you can give yourself permission to spend less or no time with them. Prioritize those that lift you up and make you feel good!
3. Take care of yourself.
It’s easy to let your health fall to the wayside during the holidays, but this will only contribute to you feeling tired, depleted, and unhappy. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, moving your body, and eating well. Even if you don’t have time or energy for a full work out – even a leisurely walk can do a world of good for your body mental health! The most important thing is to make good choices when it comes to your food. That will help fuel you through long, busy days.
Dr. Mara Windsor is an emergency physician, philanthropist, and advocate for wellness. Seven years ago, she founded L.I.F.E. (Living in Fulfilled Enlightenment), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness of professionals. In addition to being the founder of L.I.F.E. nonprofit, she serves as the National ACEP Wellness Spokesperson, is a national Envision peer coach, and Arizona Medical Association peer coach.
