I love the Christmas season! BUT it can quickly become a season of hurry, rush, and stress! We add in commitments and get-togethers on top of our already over-crowded lives. If you want to try and enjoy this Christmas season more, here are 10 things you can start by getting rid of.
- Excessive Gift-Giving
Giving gifts is great and can be so special. But excessive gift-giving benefits no one and just adds to debt, obligation, and clutter. - Overspending
Half of holiday shoppers this year will overspend their holiday budget. To better enjoy your season, stay within the financial limitations you have set for yourself. - Traditions that Don’t Serve You
Holidays are holidays and traditions are traditions. This is the best year for those changes, but we don’t have to continue with traditions that leave us feeling overwhelmed and tired. - Unnecessary Commitments.
The holiday season is known for its heightened sense of obligation. Parties for work, your neighborhood, friends, family, etc. But remember you are in charge of your holiday calendar and you do not have to appear everywhere you are invited. - Shopping “sales”
Retail stores are full of tricks to get you separated from your money. Most often when we shop “sales” we buy things we never intended to purchase. - Overeating
Eating delicious food is an enjoyable part of the holiday season, but should always be done responsibly. - Trying to create the “perfect holiday”
We often get so frustrated and weary chasing the perfect holiday that we never take time to enjoy the one right in front of us. But once we slow down enough to notice our blessings, we begin to see that we already have everything we need for a perfect holiday season. - Holding Long-Held Grudges
The holiday season is to be a celebration of peace, goodwill, and reconciliation. Yet, for many families, thoughts of peace rarely accompany the holidays. Instead, the exact opposite is all too common. Years of bitterness, resentment, and depression have been piled on top of misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misbehavior. This year, give the gift of overdue peace. - Envy
Envy and jealousy foster discontent and distress. They bind our freedom, lead to resentment, cause us to do things we wouldn’t normally do, and can spiral into depression. But during the holiday season, people are prone to them. We compare our decorated homes, our holiday meals, the money we have to spend, and the amount of wrapped boxes under a plastic tree. Comparing yourself to others is no way to enjoy your holiday season. Appreciating what you have and not expecting more is the best way to enjoy your holiday. - Your Home’s Clutter
Remove the unneeded possessions from your home. You’ll love a more relaxed, clutterfree holiday season.
The old adage is true: Less is more. Removing the items above from your holiday season will not cause you to sacrifice joy this holiday season—it will bring more of it.