Skip to content

Blogs, Posts, & Press Events

Holidays Without the Headaches

Everyone I’ve spoken to seems excited about the holidays but also bracing themselves. The idea of getting swarmed by hordes of people in a mad marathon, all hitting the finish line at the same time, in an effort to get their Christmas shopping done creates a “little” stress for most of us. Add to that the many exhausting events and time spent with family in a web of outdated dynamics causes some of us some definite trepidation. And let’s not forget the planning of the big events too…. So, I think this year, let’s do it differently. Let’s do it with ease and simplicity and a lot of laughter. Here are some helpful tips on how to get through the holidays without the headaches.

1. Start a relationship with Online Shopping – it’s fast, it’s friendly and it always satisfies. For those of you that have not yet discovered this wonderful advance in technology, let me paint a picture. You get home from a long day at work, put on something comfy, make a nice meal, pour yourself a nice glass of wine, grab your shopping list and plop yourself down on your sofa. It’s a good time now to kiss your tablet, because it’s about to make you very very happy. Why not buy everything you can buy online? You beat the rush, you get great deals starting the first week in December, you don’t have to fight your way through traffic or the crowds and it comes delivered, even gift wrapped, right to your door. Sigh. Bliss.

2. If you do need to get to the stores, late night shopping or early Saturday or Sunday are best. You get in and out efficiently and cross things off your list like a champ.

3. Take time to celebrate a good day of holiday making by looking after yourself. Pour yourself a beautiful glass of wine, have a bath, see some friends or do something that just feels good.

4. Create a mental schedule of when you’ll be busy with holiday commitments and when you’ll have time to do other things, like relax. If you’re busy planning or shopping, schedule it, say till 9 pm, then after 9, disconnect, not just from the act of shopping but also the act of thinking about all of it. Be present in what you’re doing and say….it’s not my busy time. I did that already. It’s my time to relax. There is nowhere else I need to be except right here in this moment, looking after myself.

5. Appreciate the comedy in your family. As weird and wonderful as they are, family time brings out the nerves in us all. Set the intention that if those moments come up, that you will take a deep breath and see how absurd and comical it is. Imagine your family is a dramatic comedy… and you’re all just characters in the great story of your life. Shakespeare said… “all the world’s a stage And all the men and women merely players..” Then imagine the night unfold with laughter and lightness and grace. This allows you to set the intention and visualize an evening free of tension so that if something does come up, you can let go of the emotion of it, and embrace the gorgeous, the strange and the lovely that is family.

6. Take a moment to notice the people in your life and all the things to be grateful for.

7. Celebrate the beauty of the little things.

Happy Holidays to all.

SHARE TO:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Connect With Us:

More Posts

RONDA ENGELHARDT

Ronda is a Peak Performance Coach focusing on Life Coaching and the Mental Wellbeing of Athletes in her practice. She is also contracted through a large Division 1 University program to work with their athletes as a mental coach. She specializes in fear, pressure, adversity, uncertainty, removing obstacles, anxiety, doubt, recovering from injuries or setbacks, and identity beyond a sport or a role. She provides a proactive approach to the mental health of athletes and teams on wellbeing and the mental side of the game. Ronda is also an accomplished athlete herself and spent five seasons as a head coach for a Professional Women’s Hockey team in the Premier Hockey Federation, and is a scout for the Nashville Predators of the NHL.

Ronda’s education includes undergraduate studies in Psychology, a Masters in School Counseling and post graduate certifications in Applied Positive Psychology, The R.E.W.I.R.E. Mindset Systemᵀᴹ, and is certified as an Applied Positive Psychology coach, specializing in Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching, Teamwork and Collaboration. While Ronda has specialized in the athletic mindset, she is passionate about helping any person wanting to uncover what is possible and learn to use their mind as an asset for reaching their full potential.

SYLVIA HALLIGAN

Sylvia Halligan is a mind-body mental agility and change management coach. She helps organizations successfully lead and navigate change, make it stick, and empower individuals to transform into flourishing, thriving beings. Her personal coaching practice incorporates a blend of eastern philosophy practices backed by western science. Interventions include guided visualization, hypnosis, breath work, embodiment, energy psychology, positive psychology, and neuroscience.

Sylvia is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), holds certifications in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) and Applied Positive Psychology Coaching (CAPP), and is an ICF credentialed Associate Certified Coach (ACC). She is also a Prosci-Certified Change Management Practitioner and certified in The R.E.W.I.R.E. Mindset Systemᵀᴹ. Specialties: Leading organizations through change and making it stick. Guiding individual change journeys through holistic mind-body coaching. Teaching people to thrive, not just survive.

ANJALI IYENGAR

Anjali is a Holistic Health & Positive Psychology Pracitioner. As a naturally intuitive, compassionate, and deeply empathetic coach, Anjali creates an environment for her clients that allows them to truly understand the connection of how the mind and body coexist and relate to one another. Assisting clients in understanding the mind & body connection, how blocked emotions can reappear in emotional patterning or physical alignments in the body, and aids in healing through the use of various techniques, including The R.E.W.I.R.E. Mindset Systemᵀᴹ.

Anjali holds degrees in Communications and an MBA, along with post graduate degrees and certifications in Applied Positive Psychology, Integrative Holistic Health Coaching and Breathwork.ᵀᴹ

MARJOLEIN VAN DER KRUK

Marjolein is a trainer, facilitator and coach, specializing in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. In her individual coaching practice, Marjolein works with people to educate and empower them with the tools from Positive Psychology, Self Compassion and Emotional Intelligence. Her work with corporations includes embedding innovative, human-centric mindset coaching, training and facilitation. She’s a Senior Leadership Facilitator for THNK, The School of Creative Leadership in Amsterdam, Netherlands where she develops global leaders in international corporations to unlock their full potential in leading themselves, and others, for greater impact.

Marjolein holds certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership, Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) and is an Applied Positive Psychology coach. She is also trained in Self Compassion, through the thought leader in this space, Kristen Neff, and is certified in The R.E.W.I.R.E. Mindset Systemᵀᴹ. Marjolein holds a Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences and Post Graduate degrees in Management and Positive Psychology.