Your mindset is everything so if you are constantly complaining about the holidays or certain aspects, I can promise you that you will be miserable. Christmas only comes once a year and all the holiday festivities can be overwhelming, but once the next year rolls around, you’ll be glad you made the best out of the month of December. Here are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years to surviving the holidays with divorced parents and having to be a million places at the same time.
- Don’t create these unrealistic expectations in your head. Expectation leads to disappoint so whether it’s your hopes to pull off the perfect Christmas party or finally rekindle an old flame in the heat of Christmas break, I would recommend just going with the flow and to just be whole-heartedly present in whatever you are doing. Everything will work out, if you let it.
- Less is more. Of course, everyone loves getting gifts and personally, I love giving them too. However, I’ve learned less is more when it comes to gift giving. I would take a sentimental gift over a lavish one— one that is thoughtful and shows that the person giving you the gift really knows you. Every year, I write letters to the ones I truly adore because they deserve to know I see their worth and I appreciate them. All the letters I’ve received or thoughtful, specific gifts always stand out to me and make me feel extremely loved and appreciated.
- Know what conversations to leave at home. Families don’t always see eye to eye, that’s a given when there are so many individuals with their own mindset. So, there are certain conversations that should be avoided at all costs— I would take the awkward conversation about how I am single over heated debates on the presidential election or the family altercation last spring. Sometimes small talk is a better substitute.
- Do what you want to do, too. Sometimes during the holidays, you can feel boggled down in obligations, but it’s important to find time for what you want. If you want to go see the Chicago lights and go ice skating at Millennium Park, more power to you. If you want to go to your boyfriend’s family’s holiday party instead, it’s okay to do that too. You shouldn't be so caught up trying to please everybody else.
Holidays are the perfect time to create new traditions and memories and see loved ones you don’t get to see everyday; so try your best to leave the stress at home and enjoy your time. Remember, it only comes once a year.