Let’s be honest, the holidays can be completely overwhelming and exhausting. A worldwide pandemic has brought us a fair share of stress, confusion, and overwhelm.

When your to-do list is too long, your mind never stops racing, and you feel like you can never catch up, how do you “opt-out of overwhelm”?

Try giving yourself this G.I.F.T. this year to help you overcome overwhelm and exhaustion from the holidays.

G.I.F.T. stands for Give, Intention, Fun, and Thankful. These 4 things will help you make the shift from Overwhelm to Overflow, from Exhaustion to Energized.

 

GIVE:

Give yourself permission to say a gracious “no” to anything that overcrowds your schedule.

Give yourself grace upon grace.

Give yourself permission to “not be ok” if you’re really not ok. Honor yourself and emotions.

Give yourself permission to let go of perfectionism and practice the 80/20 rule.

Give yourself time each morning to get grounded so you can be gracious – My Epic Morning Routine is a game-changer.

Give yourself the gift of time to exercise and prioritize your health.

My 10 to Trim has 10-minute workouts for your hectic schedule.

Give yourself permission to push the easy button. Here are a few ideas:

• Use paper plates and cups
• Buy food that is already prepared *gasp*
• Skip the yearly Christmas cards

It will be fine, I promise!!

INTENTION:

You are fully responsible for your energy and emotional resources. What happens when you get completely exhausted and out of resources?? It is not pretty for you and your people. Am I right?

Girlfriend, show up in all of your fabulousness and not your fussiness. How?

By becoming super intentional about where you are spending your time and what you are committing to.

Say NO to anything that overcrowds your schedule.

Be intentional about protecting your energy levels so you can be gracious and grounded.

Ask yourself these questions to evaluate what you can say “quick yes” or “hard but gracious no”…

• Is this something that has to be done? Or is it something I feel obligated to do?
• Am I doing this because I want others to like me? (people-pleasing)
• Could someone else do this instead of me? (learn to ask for help and/or delegate)
• Is this commitment allowing me to prioritize my relationships with God, my family, and my friends?
• Am I overspending?

Create a “To-do list of your priorities. These are your quick YES’s

Create a “Not to-do list”. These are your hard NO’s.

Identify your time wasters – how much time per day are you mindlessly scrolling social media? UGH, I am guilty as charged! Instagram is my time waster.

You simply cannot do all of the things you want to do in the holiday season. Know your daily priorities, check off your list, and learn to say NO to “good” things that are not on your priority list.

 

FUN

Are you having fun? Are you fun to be around?

If not, change something! (Hint: It might need to be your attitude…)

Be flexible and stop trying to get everything and everyone to live up to high expectations, it takes the fun out of the holidays. It can leave us tired, irritable, and unpleasant to be around.

Here is a health hack: LOL… Literally. Laugh out loud. Laugh often. Laughter is good for the soul. Life is too short to be so serious and not to laugh.

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” E.E. Cummings

THANKFUL

Gratitude changes everything.

When you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, fussy, and overall not showing up as your “best self”, take a moment to reconnect with yourself. Breathe and think of 3-5 things you are thankful for. This alone resets the natural negative bias in the brain and creates the opportunity for you to find more peace and greater joy.

“Give thanks with a grateful heart.” 1 Thes 5:18

 

As the holiday season is now upon us and we start to “wrap up” this year, practice these tips to give yourself and your family a well-deserved GIFT.

xoxo,