#holiday tips

Reminder that it's okay to set boundaries with family or friends over the holidays!

You don't have to explain, and you don't have to be the one educate. You can always send em to us for that.

Selective Focus! :)

Summer is a time of holiday trips, so I'll share a little trick with you:

1) Take only necessary items and pack them in the suitcase.

2) Pack all the unnecessary items in a second suitcase.

3) Put all the remaining belongings into your carry-on luggage.

Mindful Monday

Any ideas/tips?

Absolutely! I have a post on secular celebrations for the winter holidays here and some recipe suggestions for your special supper here.

I would advise keeping things simple, especially with a busy schedule to work around and a wee one to look after. A spruce-scented candle and your favorite holiday movie or playlist providing the ambience can be the loveliest and most festive thing in the world. If you feel up to it, maybe a craft-store garland of pine boughs or holly and a string of battery-operated lights around the main window. Always a sweet sight to come home to.

Tradition often seems to demand a ham or a roast bird of some sort, but if you'd rather have stirfry or pasta, go for it. You can always add in some holiday gingersnaps or shortbread for dessert. Maybe a glass of mulled cider or wassail for you and your sweetie later on once the munchkin is all tucked in. And yes, storebought everything is perfectly fine.

Decorate where you can and make a meal that brings warmth and conviviality to the table, but don't run yourself ragged trying to make everything perfect. It's far more important to celebrate together and enjoy each others' company in a meaningful way than to have the house and the table Just So.

Take breaks! I celebrate Christmas, and since it’s a Big Deal in my family, it can be a lot of fun but also incredibly draining. Sometimes I’ll go to my room for a bit to chill by myself (this doesn’t tend to help immensely with regaining spoons, but it sometimes can for me). I usually wait until everyone else is also taking a break from the current activity, but sometimes I have to take a break before everyone else is ready to, and that’s hard.

Because I have a disability that can make it hard for me to walk or stand, sometimes I have to opt out of doing holiday things with my family, like walking around looking at Christmas lights, but I can also ask them if we could ride in the car instead so I can still go. If I decide to stay home/if they really want to walk and I can’t do that, watching a fun Christmas movie on my own can cheer me up and make me feel like I’m not missing out as much.

Also! If you’re cooking and you can’t stand for very long, sit down as much as possible. If you’ve got a chair/stool that’s tall enough, there’s nothing wrong with sitting in front of the stove or the counter. If you can, get people to help you. It will make the job go faster, and if you like the people who are helping you, it’ll be more fun.