1.
Get into
the holiday spirit. It doesn’t matter which holiday you chose, or if you
celebrate all of them. December is packed with days of celebration. So instead
of worrying about who you’re going to see, what gifts you need to get, what you’re
going to wear, and that never ending to-do list; get out and do something fun.
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How to: Is there a holiday lights display in your town? How about a
seasonal show, ballet, or event? Or stay in, have a movie marathon, bake
cookies, host a holiday party! New Year’s Eve brings even more opportunity to
get out and have fun. End 2016 in high spirits!
2.
Stay in
touch with friends and family. This time of year we’re inundated with
holiday cards, family pictures on Facebook, and reminders of the people we care
about. Unfortunately, this can also be a reminder of all the people I haven’t
talked to as much as I wanted, or those I’ve fallen out of touch with. I know
my life is very busy, and I am so grateful that my friends and family let me
periodically disappear. So, before the year is up, find everyone you want to
maintain relationships with, and make that happen.
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How to: This could be a simple phone call or text just to say “Hello- I’ve
been thinking about you- Happy Holidays!” Or invite someone to that great New
Year’s Eve party you planned after reading the first goal. I love sending out
quick holiday cards, just pick up a couple from the store and send those out- quick,
easy, not too expensive, but it has a big impact!
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Disclaimer: You do not have to stay
in touch with everyone! In fact there are people that you might feel obligated
to, but you don’t want to continue that relationship- so don’t! Only continue
relationships that you feel are a positive force and bring strength.
3.
Spend
time alone- without your phone, computer, tv, or any other screen. Take a
day to really disconnect from everyone and everything. I know this sounds
somewhat contradictory to our last goal, but this is important. Taking this
time to just be you, let’s us recharge and re-evaluate how we’re doing. Being
comfortable alone is a life skill that we need to keep practicing- being
comfortable with ourselves makes us more comfortable with others.
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How to: Go on a walk, take a nice
long shower or bath, go on a drive. I find that leaving my environment to be
alone is best because it really forces me to notice my solitude and find
comfort and peace in that.
4.
Get rid of what’s causing you stress. I do not
mean, quit your job or buy a new car. We don’t all have the luxury to do that,
but go for it if that’s what you need. So, my room is cluttered, not messy or
disorganized but cluttered. Everything has a place, but there are too many
things in that place. So, to get rid of my stress at home, I am going to get
rid of a bunch of my clutter! But this goal doesn’t have to be about actually
removing things, it can be mending or re-organizing too, the goal here is to
start 2017 without this stress looming over us as we set new years resolutions.
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How to: I already gave the example of
de-cluttering and cleaning things that need it, like my car, or organizing the
stack labeled “to be filed” in my office. But other things that stress me out
are all the gifts I need to buy, so I’m getting a head start and my goal is to
be done before the 20th this year. (I confess I normally do a lot of
last minute shopping) I have a lot of work to do as the year draws to an end,
so I’ve created weekly goals and schedules for completing all of this. For me,
having a clear plan of how to tackle all the chaos relaxes me, even if I have
to fall back to plans C, D, or E. Another important part of this planning is
setting boundaries for myself and others. This is a clear understanding of what
I can handle, and being comfortable with that. For example, the goals I set for
work are realistic and reflect the time commitment to family and friends during
the holiday season.
5. Set goals for 2017. If you’ve completed
goals 1-4 you are ending 2016 in high spirits, you’re staying in touch with
those you care about, you’ve taken inventory of your year and pruned out some
stress. Now what? Moving forward how are you going to keep this up? What didn’t
go well in 2016 that you want to change in 2017? What can you change, and what
are you willing to? Answering these questions are half the battle but next is
making an action plan. There is no change without follow through.
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How to: So a goal is to exercise
more, so you’ll join a gym. But knowing yourself, how realistic is this? What’s
going to happen, what might be some barriers to you completing this goal? Then
make a plan to counteract those barriers. For example, sign up for a personal
trainer that holds you to appointments, or sign up for classes that have
specific times that you have to pay for in advance. Want to stay organized?
Great. but how? Setting goals without action plans is like packing for a
vacation without knowing the destination: you might be ok, but the trip might
be more enjoyable if you planned ahead.
