Nearly every person I’ve spoken to over the last week or so has mentioned to me how much they have on this merry month of December. <\/p>\n
Holiday parties. School concerts. Travel planning. Teacher gifts. Card writing. Present shopping. Christmas decorating. Gift wrapping. Work deadlines. Party planning…<\/p>\n
It’s no wonder so many feel a little (or lot) frazzled in their race to get it all done!<\/p>\n
This time of year has been dubbed the \u201csilly season\u201d for a reason. Yet it doesn’t have to be stressful and exhausting. We make it that way because of how we engage in it. <\/p>\n
Given that our emotions are contagious, it’s worth taking a minute to ask yourself whether you are spreading joy to those around you… or just the opposite.<\/p>\n
If you’re Christmas ‘to do’ list still running off the page and you’re feeling under the pump to get it all done, perfectly (and fit in those holiday parties in between) I hope one of these ideas will help you keep your inner Bar Humbug from making an appearance. <\/p>\n
1. Drop A Few \u201cTo Dos\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Have a look at your \u2018to do\u2019 list and pick three things on it that, if you didn\u2019t do them, would have relatively minimal consequences. They may all feel important but they aren\u2019t all pressingly urgent to be done by the end of the year. So discern the vital few from the trivial many; those really \u2018must do this\u2019 priorities\u00a0from the \u2018nice to do\u2019 tasks. I will make a bet that many of them either don\u2019t need to get done before year end, or could be dropped altogether with minimal fall out on anyone! In other words, \u201cDo less, better<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Lower The Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, you have high standards and don\u2019t want to drop them. You want to give perfect gifts, host a perfect gathering and finish the year with everything perfectly in place. You\u2019re a true professional right? However, sometimes our commitment to doing everything to exacting\u00a0standards can keep us from just getting things done and\u00a0create a lot of unnecessary stress that doesn\u2019t serve anyone! Consider that lowering the bar a little may be just what\u2019s needed at times (and not just at Christmas time!) As I wrote in Brave<\/a>, \u201cDone is better than perfect<\/strong>.\u201d So just get it done. Like this column.<\/p>\n 3. Don\u2019t Should On Others<\/strong><\/p>\n Just as you need to remove a few of the \u2018shoulds\u2019 you put\u00a0on yourself, so too it\u2019s important not to \u2018should\u2019 on others. A large part of the frustration people feel over the holiday season is caused by their attachment to what\u00a0other people \u2018should\u2019 be doing.<\/p>\n Sure people may not always act with the thoughtfulness, professionalism, generosity or graciousness that you think they \u2018should\u2019, but don\u2019t let their attitude and behavior undermine your own. They have their path to forge, their relationships to manage and they\u2019ll reap the seeds they\u2019ve sown. Focus on who\u00a0you\u00a0are being. The rest will take care of itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n