Keep It Together

Your Guide to Make it Through the Holidays

Did you know there are at least 84 different holidays from October through March?
And, out of those 84, 41 are celebrated in December alone!

One of the best things about the Lazy Dancer community is our diversity. So many countries, so many languages, so many beautiful beliefs, and meaningful ways of celebrating are freely expressed- it fills my heart to the brim with joy. 

But, the holidays are always a little bitter-sweet, wouldn't you agree? 😉

The seasonal months inevitably come with unwanted stress. On the one hand, we're surrounded by cherished family and friends. Joy, gratitude, and hospitality abound. On the other hand, we feel pressure from hosting, stress while traveling, worry over shopping, and preparing meals is almost too much to bear. Needless to say, this unwelcome guest called Stress can negatively impact our physical and emotional well-being. So, we’ve put together:

5 Tips to Make it Through (and Enjoy) the Holidays!

1. You Can’t Please Everyone.

   When we care about the people in our lives, we want to see them happy. But, there's absolutely no way humanly possible to please everyone all the time. The people in your life that genuinely care the most will never judge or get upset with you over an honest mistake, a personal choice, or for forgetting something. 
   

   So, you forgot about the bread in the oven, it burned, and now no one gets bread on the dinner table- oh well! C’est la vie! 

   So, your uncle doesn’t get to watch the big game because the yelling kiddos insist on a holiday movie instead. I think most uncles can get passed it. 

   So, your sister-in-law isn’t happy about your choice of music for the evening. She’ll be fine. 

   
   It’s your effort, your time and energy. If you're going to the trouble of hosting a holiday event (a real labor of love), your guests should always be grateful and appreciative. If anyone acts otherwise, too bad for them. You're doing your best, and I know- you're doing Great! ⭐️
   

2. Take Care of Yourself.

   When we don't take time to nurture ourselves, to give ourselves some well-deserved attention, we can't nurture and care for those closest to us. End of story. 
   

   Please, you deserve some time for yourself. You deserve a special moment of your own. Set some time aside for you to focus on your own needs. Things will feel easier and more manageable if you tend to your needs first. 
   
   Pamper yourself a little, you earned it. Get a massage, lock yourself in your room and binge-watch your favorite shows, dance to music that makes you feel good- as long as you’re doing it because it makes you happy, your mind and your body will thank you.💖 
   
   

3. Plan Ahead.

   Whether it's grocery shopping, gift gathering, or packing your suitcase- plan ahead. Schedule things far enough in advance to give yourself some wiggle-room, should an unexpected setback occur. Write your lists and put them with your planner, or hang a calendar on your wall where you can easily see it. 
   

   If foods can be frozen until needed, get those items first and start checking things off your grocery list. If you need to have a formal dress for an event, get it early and hang it up where you won't have to worry about it anymore. 

   
   If you can take care of even the littlest things here and there, your To-Do list is going to get smaller and smaller, until you suddenly find yourself ahead of schedule! 🙌
   

4. It’s OK to say, “No“.

   Yes, it is! You can't do everything, you can't make everyone happy, you can't be in more than one place at a time- I've tried, it didn't work.
   

   Give yourself permission to decline an invitation or two. If it's an event that doesn't mean a lot to you, then let it slide. Save your energy for the more meaningful moments. 

   If you're not comfortable cooking, then pass the task over to someone who, just maybe, has always wanted to try. 
   

   And, you don't have to feel like a hotel. You have every right to ask friends or family to find a place to stay- other than your home. If they love you, they'll understand.

   So, go ahead and say, "No." You're an adult, you're allowed to do that now. 😸

   
   

5. Focus on Quality over Quantity.

   This can be applied both to gift-giving and time shared. I try to choose gifts that come from the heart. After all, a gift is supposed to be a gesture of love and gratitude. That gesture should reflect how you really feel. 
   

   An expensive price tag or a designer label doesn't make a gift any more exceptional. A homemade offering doesn't mean it's any less special. If it comes from your heart, the recipient will love it no matter what. 
   

   The quality of a gift comes from a place of gratitude, not from a place of superficiality.

   When you schedule your calendar, remember your time is precious. Spend time with the ones in your life that truly mean the most to you, give that time priority. We never know what tomorrow may bring. Make the most of the time you spend with loved ones. Cherish those moments, the memories will stay with you long after the season has passed. 💗
   
   As ever, I’m here to help! 

   Questions and comments are always welcome.
   I love to hear how YOU keep it together during the holidays.
   
   Love
   Alessia

   
   

Still Need Help?

If you find yourself feeling short of inspiration, remember you can download the Get Ballerina Fit workout. What helps you the most when fatigue sets in? Let me know in the comments below, so we can all learn from each other. Let’s keep dancing!

Of course I’m here for you, so if you have any question or want to start a conversation, feel free to leave a message below or send me an email to hello@lazydancertips.com :)

Love
Alessia