Holiday Stress Survival Guide Tip #2: Set Reasonable Expectations

 

It seems that no other time of year holds more unmet expectations than Christmas.

Your kids have super-high expectations.   Gift lists a mile long.   Dreams of stockings bursting with toys on Christmas morning.

But you probably have super-high expectations too.

You expect that you can decorate the house like a professional. Bake like a pastry chef. And have well-behaved angelic children through it all.

Sure, you may not say these expectations out loud; but when you start feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it may be these unspoken expectations sneaking up on you.

This year, I encourage you to set reasonable expectations for yourself and your family.   This may alter some family traditions or cause the neighbors to talk, but the benefits will far outweigh the negatives.

Start by visualizing.

Take a few minutes to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.   Think about the month of December, the holiday parties, baking, shopping, wrapping, decorating.   Which of these activities do you truly enjoy? Which of these activities cause you to feel tense?

Now, imagine the perfect month of December.   What activities would you include?   Which would you eliminate? What would you add? Who would you spend time with? Give yourself time to create a clear picture in your mind.   Add as many details as possible, smells, sights, and sounds.

Make it happen.

Once you have a clear picture of the perfect holiday, follow these steps to make it a reality:

• Write down a list of the things you want to continue or things you’d like to do this year.

• Decide which things are reasonable for you and your family.   You cannot do everything on your list; chose your top 5 or 10, make sure you include the things that you enjoy!

• Cross off anything that takes away from your vision of the “perfect holiday season.”

• Find creative solutions for everything else on the list. So you can’t skip the visit with crabby Great Aunt Milly, but maybe you could bring little gifts for the staff at her assisted living facility.

Changing your expectations doesn’t mean settling.

It means giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy the holiday season without being overwhelmed with stress and frustration.

How can I help you?

Are you ready to make some changes to your parenting in the new year? Parent Coaching can give you the tools and accountability needed to make these goals a reality.   Contact me today for more information!