Phyllis Reardon M.Ed.
Life Coach
One well know Christmas song uses the refrain,
'the most wonderful time of the year.'
Is it? How come then there is so much stress?
Stress is not built into us. It is created by how we react to events in our life and Christmas is an event. How you respond to it may increase your stress.
Being aware of this is key to not allowing it to happen, or in lessening it through these Life Coaching Christmas tips.
Please use and share with clients or friends and family and it well may be the most wonderful time of the year.
1. Create your Christmas plan
Put pen to paper and write up activities and tasks for each day for the next two weeks. Check when completed.
2. Be reasonable & realistic with yourself and others
Remember, we are human and no one is perfect. The cakes, cookies and decorations you see on TV and in magazines are staged. It took many professionals many hours of their time to achieve this look. Cookies can burn and they do!
3. Focus on the real meaning of Christmas for you
If this means family, make sure you schedule uninterrupted family time. Turn off all phones for a period of time.
4. Introduce your children to some games you played as a child
Board games create memories and are great fun. They bring people together in a family circle.
5. Get other family members involved in house work
Depending on the age, simple and safe household tasks can be completed by most.
6. Be kind to Your Self
Take time to relax you. Go for a walk, take in a gym class, read a book, do nothing!
7. Decide to make Christmas Day a stress free day. That is up to you!
Have a stress free Christmas or Holiday Season.
Coach Phyllis
www.coachphyllis.com
phyllis@coachphyllis.com
Showing posts with label Christmas stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas stress. Show all posts
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Life Coaching Activities for Dealing With The Stress and Pressures of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Christmas, Holiday Season
Phyllis Reardon M.Ed.
Life Coach
Yes, we hear it everywhere, in song and advertising, over and over again we are told it is the 'most wonderful time of the year.' For some of us that may be true and then for the rest of us we think we have to make it the most wonderful time of the year...whatever that means.
It's a phrase that can cause much stress for many. 'Most wonderful time,' can bring with it the stress of the perfect gift, the perfect dinner, the perfect decorations, perfect, perfect. No one and no one thing is perfect.
This Christmas or holiday season, which ever term you use, make sure that the 'perfect' doesn't overwhelm.
Try these Life Coaching activies to try to bring the 'perfect state' of relaxation to you and family.
Activity One:
Right up front designate time for you and your family. Make sure there is down time from the hustle and bustle. Set aside time for board games and favorite family movies. No favorite movie,well now is a good time to start.
Activity Two:
No one is perfect,repeat this to yourself. You may need to hear this when cookies burn or lights fail to light. Try to go with the flow. Take a deep breath and repeat. No one is perfect.
Activity Three:
Get a little help from a friend, a grocery store. We are filled with the image of the perfect homemade cookies, cakes, pies. Remember Great-Grandma didn't work outside the house. Get a little help, try semi-homemade or store bought cookies and cakes. Santa won't know the difference.
The most importnat thing this season is to have relaxing time for you and your family, however that looks to you.
Enjoy and have a safe one.
Coach Phyllis
www.coachphyllis.com
www.lifecoachphyllis.blogspot.com
phyllis@coachphyllis.com
Next article on New Year's Resolutions
Life Coach
Yes, we hear it everywhere, in song and advertising, over and over again we are told it is the 'most wonderful time of the year.' For some of us that may be true and then for the rest of us we think we have to make it the most wonderful time of the year...whatever that means.
It's a phrase that can cause much stress for many. 'Most wonderful time,' can bring with it the stress of the perfect gift, the perfect dinner, the perfect decorations, perfect, perfect. No one and no one thing is perfect.
This Christmas or holiday season, which ever term you use, make sure that the 'perfect' doesn't overwhelm.
Try these Life Coaching activies to try to bring the 'perfect state' of relaxation to you and family.
Activity One:
Right up front designate time for you and your family. Make sure there is down time from the hustle and bustle. Set aside time for board games and favorite family movies. No favorite movie,well now is a good time to start.
Activity Two:
No one is perfect,repeat this to yourself. You may need to hear this when cookies burn or lights fail to light. Try to go with the flow. Take a deep breath and repeat. No one is perfect.
Activity Three:
Get a little help from a friend, a grocery store. We are filled with the image of the perfect homemade cookies, cakes, pies. Remember Great-Grandma didn't work outside the house. Get a little help, try semi-homemade or store bought cookies and cakes. Santa won't know the difference.
The most importnat thing this season is to have relaxing time for you and your family, however that looks to you.
Enjoy and have a safe one.
Coach Phyllis
www.coachphyllis.com
www.lifecoachphyllis.blogspot.com
phyllis@coachphyllis.com
Next article on New Year's Resolutions
Monday, November 30, 2009
How To Enjoy Christmas and Lessen Stress
So it is December 1st, a little over 3 weeks to Christmas Day. We continuously hear in story and song that it is the happiest time of the year, well if that is so, why are so many people stressed and exhausted on December 25th?
There is so much to do…… There is such little time and money……I want it to be perfect.
These are some of the answers and the reality of the Christmas stress. How then do you deal with, limit or eliminate complete this Christmas stress.
Life Coaching Activity to Deal With Christmas stress.
1. Planning is always the best way to reduce stress in any part of your life. So plan your days. Write up a schedule. Have family input.
2. Take time for yourself and family. This works just as well if you live by yourself. Do what I like to call a ‘snow day.’ Plan at least one day during the holidays where you don’t leave your home. Begin with a big breakfast where everyone helps. Follow this with board games, movies, reading, family activities. It can become a part of your family Christmas tradition.
3. In - house retreat. Schedule a time for you. Create your own in-house retreat. Make sure the kids, if any, know ahead of time that you will be taking 2-3 hours for yourself, in-house. Take a long luxurious bath. Read a book. Do your nails. Listen to soothing music. Whatever works for you.
4. Focus on the positives in your life. There are no two people alike in this world so don’t try to be like anyone else. Your life is your life at this point in time and just like an original painting you are unique. Take time at the end of the day to focus on the positive things in your life. They are there.
5. Slow down. The work life has become so busy. So much more is expected of us. Technology in our home creates more time for us while technology at work has the potential to consume more of our time. Take a few minutes each day to do some deep breathing; creative thinking, sometimes called ‘day dreaming.’ It can stimulate the brain and lower the blood pressure. Relax, enjoy your life at this moment.
Have a great day.
Coach Phyllis
phyllis@coachphyllis.com
There is so much to do…… There is such little time and money……I want it to be perfect.
These are some of the answers and the reality of the Christmas stress. How then do you deal with, limit or eliminate complete this Christmas stress.
Life Coaching Activity to Deal With Christmas stress.
1. Planning is always the best way to reduce stress in any part of your life. So plan your days. Write up a schedule. Have family input.
2. Take time for yourself and family. This works just as well if you live by yourself. Do what I like to call a ‘snow day.’ Plan at least one day during the holidays where you don’t leave your home. Begin with a big breakfast where everyone helps. Follow this with board games, movies, reading, family activities. It can become a part of your family Christmas tradition.
3. In - house retreat. Schedule a time for you. Create your own in-house retreat. Make sure the kids, if any, know ahead of time that you will be taking 2-3 hours for yourself, in-house. Take a long luxurious bath. Read a book. Do your nails. Listen to soothing music. Whatever works for you.
4. Focus on the positives in your life. There are no two people alike in this world so don’t try to be like anyone else. Your life is your life at this point in time and just like an original painting you are unique. Take time at the end of the day to focus on the positive things in your life. They are there.
5. Slow down. The work life has become so busy. So much more is expected of us. Technology in our home creates more time for us while technology at work has the potential to consume more of our time. Take a few minutes each day to do some deep breathing; creative thinking, sometimes called ‘day dreaming.’ It can stimulate the brain and lower the blood pressure. Relax, enjoy your life at this moment.
Have a great day.
Coach Phyllis
phyllis@coachphyllis.com
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