The holiday season is here. Our calendars are packed and we are looking forward to enjoying our family and friends. But, the pressure is on us to give the perfect gift, make everything look wonderful, taste delicious, and to create the perfect experience for others.

Are you one of those people who is up until midnight baking or wrapping? Are you exhausted before your party begins? Are you in a crazed state trying to find the last copy of a popular game or toy?

You have a choice to make – will you see the holiday activities and events as hurdles you have to get over or will you design your holiday season so that you can really enjoy and savour it?

You have the power to make choices and influence the way you spend your time, resources and energy. By taking back control of your life you will feel more deeply satisfied this holiday season and in the New Year!

The good news is that I will be sharing with you some of my proven holiday stress busting strategies so that you can focus on the real meaning of the holiday season.

Here are some of my tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season which you can start using today!

Take Control of the Things You Can Control
At any point in your life there are things which you can and cannot control. As much as you would like to, you cannot control other people’s behaviour, traffic, long line-ups, the number of hours in the day, the timing of your teenager’s mood swing nor your toddler’s temper tantrum. So, do not waste your precious energy stressing out about these things. Focus on managing your stress reaction to the things you can control. For example, how you react to and treat other people. You may be seeing people who are irritating to you. Choose not to get ‘baited’ by them. Take a deep breath, be polite and walk away. Have no regrets about your own behaviour. Manage your to-do list (how many items on it) and how your money is spent (holiday budget). Think carefully about how your time is spent (what, where and with whom).

What is Really Important to You?
What is the Big Picture of what you want to create for the holiday season? This is different from what you think that you should do and should want. Rise above the chaos and decide what you really want. Decide what traditions offer the most positive impact to you and remove the superfluous activities. This assessment will help you to focus your energy as well as affect your decision making. You will be able to make choices more quickly and easily when your schedule is being developed and when events arise (life happens!). By saying ’no’ it does not mean that you are difficult or uncaring. Saying ‘no’ is recognizing your limits and being selective in what you choose to do. Everyone is busy at this time. They will understand.

Simplify and Consolidate your Activities
Simplify what, how and when you will do your activities. For example, remove all of the non-priority tasks and events from your calendar. Too many activities, even if they are fun activities can cause you to become frazzled and stressed. Make a comprehensive list of everything you need to purchase and accomplish. Shop early and at low volume times (mornings). Aim to visit the selected store/mall one time only. Consider shopping online. If you find a great gift at a great price, consider who else on your list it would be suitable for as a gift. Wrap gifts as you buy them.

Consolidate your efforts so that you are most efficient. This strategy refers to completing similar types of work all at the same time. For example, set out specific times for card writing, baking, shopping, fun, and social events. Curb needless interruptions by focusing on one specific activity at a time. Avoid the temptation to switch around and get distracted. Use your energy cycles to your advantage. If mornings are your high energy times do your high priority items in the morning. You will be much more efficient than if you save them for the late evening. You will be amazed by how much more you will get accomplished!

Set Realistic Expectations of Yourself and Others
Most of our stress is not caused by the situation itself, but how it compares with our expectations of ourselves and of others. When our expectations are unrealistic, we are almost guaranteed to feel some disappointment and frustration – it is a trap we unwittingly set for ourselves. So, why do we choose to do it? The reality is that we can’t do it all, we can’t be all things to all people, and no matter how hard we try there are some people who we just cannot please. It would be easier if we stopped putting such impossible expectations on ourselves. Aim high but don’t purposely set yourself up to be disappointed.

For the family holiday celebrations, delegate! You can’t do it all and there is no reason that you should. Make your meals into a potluck meal. You will get a variety of foods and everyone will feel like they are contributing to the fun. Also, rather than trying to run around taking all of the pictures, put out disposable cameras so that everyone can play a part in capturing the great moments. You will likely have lots of fun surprises when you get the pictures developed!

Have Fun!
It is so important to incorporate fun and humour into your holidays. You will be able to create an atmosphere that is alive and full of vitality – a happy place to be. A deep belly laugh stimulates the brain to produce endorphins. These endorphins renew you physically, mentally and emotionally. Also, they contribute to feelings of relaxation and refreshment. I savour the magical feeling which is created when my family and I have a good laugh together. You don’t have to create elaborate ‘have fun’ plans. Look for humour and fun in your everyday life – dance with your children/your partner, sing your favourite holiday songs, doodle, create a snowman, wander around a book store, go ice skating, wear a colorful scarf, surprise a friend who could use a laugh, experience the holidays through the eyes of a child – how wonderful!

Savour Everything about the Moment
You have a good sense of the big picture which you want to create for the holiday season, you have simplified, consolidated, set realistic expectations and you are including having lots of fun. Great!

The structures are in place for you to savour everything about the moments of your holiday season. Feel fantastic when you are completing your holiday shopping. Hear the children laughing. Get out of the kitchen and socialize with your guests. Really listen to what people are saying. Sing holiday songs with meaning and volume! Notice that one of our greatest acts of generosity is to allow others to be generous to us.

Take the time to think about all that you have in your life to be grateful for, you will be amazed. Let’s truly show our gratitude to those we love and care about. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of our lives.

Savour the love, peace and joy that is all around you!

We are incredibly excited to be launching 6 Life Clubs in January, 2010!

Life Clubs are practical and structured 90 minute weekly workshops which give you a clearer way of thinking about yourself and your life.

Here is your chance to have some ‘self care time’ since Life Clubs will help you create the life you want and give you fun networking opportunities. Clubbers come away with an action plan on how they want to move forward with their lives. It’s supportive, stimulating and accountable.

Life Clubs are designed to be affordable and accessible. Each workshop is $25 (discounts available to seniors and students) and there’s a $20 one time membership which includes the workshop materials, Life Clubs pencil and post-it notes and a beautiful binder. You can buy a package of 10 workshops for $225 (one free workshop!).

We are now offering FREE Membership to the first 10 members of each club!

What a Great holiday gift to yourself and as a gift to the important people in your life. We have gift certificates to fit all budgets.

Our Life Clubs Locations are: Etobicoke (already open), Bloor West Village, Leaside, The Beaches, Downtown Toronto and Oakville.

Click here to Sign-up

For more information on Life Clubs please see: lifeclubs.ca or email eva-marie@lifeclubs.ca.

Click here for more on GEM Life Coaching and Consulting’s Services and Workshops.

In each Life Club we look at the ‘best thing that happened to you today’. We tend to focus our thoughts on the negative things so in this exercise we are aiming for balance – to see our lives from another perspective. Noticing and being grateful for the big and small things in life is so powerful. This poem by Robert Frost encapsulates this theory.