UPDATED 02/21/2025
Around the holidays, stress ends to creep in to our lives at an increasing speed. Especially me! But I want to encourage you to keep calm. Our lives feel like they’re out of control because of all the things we have to do. If you’re anything like most people, the spirit of gift giving and spending beyond your means becomes your M.O.. Or you get too excited about all the food that’s available and overeat. If you’re like me, you do both. We even tend to lose our focus and deter from the path we’re on. And a diversion from the path you’re on can be good, but not always.
In the United States, many of us have large families and extended families. That means a lot of people to buy presents for, just to see their faces light up when they open their gift. But instead of keeping calm and spending within our budget, we overspend during the holidays and feel almost obligated to buy the latest and greatest. Why? It might just be the way our country is or it might be the need to have cool things. Even though I don’t know the really know the answer, I know that if you shop early, shop online, and shop the sale rack, you can save money. And that’s calming in and of itself.
Besides the shopping we do around the holidays, there’s tons of scrumptious food everywhere too. Our Thanksgiving Day is so fun, but I get overwhelmed quickly. My dad cooks enough food for 25+ people – ginormous turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole, and at least a few other sides. But don’t forget the rolls, the desserts and the wine. You might think “Oh, it’s just one day!” and choose to eat and drink until you’re pop. And you’d be right-it is just one day! While one treat may not totally steer you off course, eating this way for an entire day may actually increase your anxiety. So how do you keep calm?
This holiday season, try to remember everything you’ve accomplished all year or where you’re headed. One day is not going to hurt you, but be conscious of your portions. Both in your wallet and on your plate.
