Traveling during the holidays? Just the thought of airports, crowds, traffic can send my stress level to the ceiling. It seems the older I get, the more I appreciate the concept of home for the holidays. When "home" refers to another state, the returning takes some planning.
Keep it simple. I cannot state this enough. Trying to see everyone you have ever known, pack gifts for everyone on your list, or work up to the time you leave for the airport will surely increase the level of crazy.
Plan the trip with these key concepts in mind:
Time can be your friend if you work with it:Remember the two-and-a half rule? Double the amount of time and add an additional half again when planning your itinerary. This will account for added traffic, lines, forgotten items, and give a cushion of down-time. So, if you think packing will take a half hour, allow an hour and fifteen minutes. And checking in at the airport...okay, you get it.
Less really is less...less hassle, less to remember, less money: Most airlines charge for baggage now. But even if you are driving to your destination, think light. When planning what to bring, coordinate pieces and colors to conserve space. One little black dress can be dressed up, or down with smaller accessories, like scarves or jewelry. Ship packages early to avoid bringing them with you.
Coordinate!: This applies to everything from arrival times, carpooling, what to bring, what to wear, and get-togethers with family and or friends. For example, I have learned to plan one day for friends when traveling back to Texas. A simple evite with a favorite restaurant in a central location to all my friends alleviates the smaller visits with each one.
All of this is assuming you have planned ahead, which may be a fairly large assumption. And of course, if you traveling with kids...well, that's a different blog.
For me, the happiest holidays are those where I actually get to enjoy the spirit of the season, the comfort of family and friends, the tastes and sounds and sights that only the holiday season can promise.
Check in next week for tips on holiday snacking 101...
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Art of Re-remembering
Do you have that friend or family member that always seems to give you something that, though it may not be the most expensive or the biggest gift, can make you smile, or cry? Is it the gift? Is it the giver?
Giving meaningful gifts doesn't have to cost a fortune or take forever. If you are one of those people who shops all year and can at this point say, "I've completed my holiday shopping", I salute you. For those of us who wait, keep reading.
Last week we created a calendar for all of our holiday events and made mini-plans to stay on track. This week, we create a list of the people we want to acknowledge in some way.
So get out your notebook and start the list. For now, don't worry about what comes next, just make the list. Co-workers, teachers or students, friends, family, your mail carrier, write them all down.
Got it?
With this list, take a hi-liter or in some way mark next to the names of people you simply want to acknowledge. This may actually be most of your list.
Look at the names left. These are the people you definitely want to give a gift. Mark these with a different color hi-liter or symbol.
More than likely these are family members and close friends.
If this hasn't taken care of your list, the rest of your names probably fit in the "acknowledge-but-you-may-feel-obligated-to-give-a-gift" group. Leave them there for now.
Now is the perfect time to look for holiday cards. They haven't been picked over too badly, and if mailing them, they'll arrive in plenty of time. Include everyone on your list and add 5-10 more for those people you initially forgot. Of course if you are the creative type, you may want to create a note or card yourself, include a favorite picture, or, if really industrious, type out one of those "Our family this year" newsletters. Whatever you choose, let it reflect your personality and intentions.
I used to mail Christmas cards to a list of over 100 people. I burned myself out with trying to personalize messages to people I hardly knew. I don't recommend this. Keep it simple.
A gift, by definition, is "something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor, honor an occasion or make gesture of assistance." ~ Dictionary.com Don't let giving become a burden.
With this thought in mind, go back to your list and move any remaining names to the "acknowledge" or "gift" group
For those you want to give something additional, decide on a budget and stick to it. Remember, the gifts that we treasure have special meaning or trigger shared experience. Creativity can add value to the gift without increasing the cost.
For each person on your priority list, take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your shared experiences. This could be a time during the past month, or year, or it may have happened years ago. Put yourself fully in that moment and jot down your thoughts and feelings:
Now you get to use your creative ability to re-create the emotion of this shared experience. This could be as simple as a gift card to that favorite restaurant, or as elaborate as a painting you create to mark the occasion. Let your imagination and your heart guide you. And for those of you who say, "I'm not creative", I'm not buying it. If you take the time to reflect on the receiver, who they are to you, what their presence in your life means to you, you cannot go wrong.
These gifts take more effort on your part because these people touch you in a way that adds richness and fullness to your life.
And the best part of giving in this way is the re-remembering of the special people and moments...a gift that gives back to you as it is given.
Join me next week for tips on travel during the holidays...
Giving meaningful gifts doesn't have to cost a fortune or take forever. If you are one of those people who shops all year and can at this point say, "I've completed my holiday shopping", I salute you. For those of us who wait, keep reading.
Last week we created a calendar for all of our holiday events and made mini-plans to stay on track. This week, we create a list of the people we want to acknowledge in some way.
So get out your notebook and start the list. For now, don't worry about what comes next, just make the list. Co-workers, teachers or students, friends, family, your mail carrier, write them all down.
Got it?
With this list, take a hi-liter or in some way mark next to the names of people you simply want to acknowledge. This may actually be most of your list.
Look at the names left. These are the people you definitely want to give a gift. Mark these with a different color hi-liter or symbol.
More than likely these are family members and close friends.
If this hasn't taken care of your list, the rest of your names probably fit in the "acknowledge-but-you-may-feel-obligated-to-give-a-gift" group. Leave them there for now.
Now is the perfect time to look for holiday cards. They haven't been picked over too badly, and if mailing them, they'll arrive in plenty of time. Include everyone on your list and add 5-10 more for those people you initially forgot. Of course if you are the creative type, you may want to create a note or card yourself, include a favorite picture, or, if really industrious, type out one of those "Our family this year" newsletters. Whatever you choose, let it reflect your personality and intentions.
I used to mail Christmas cards to a list of over 100 people. I burned myself out with trying to personalize messages to people I hardly knew. I don't recommend this. Keep it simple.
A gift, by definition, is "something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor, honor an occasion or make gesture of assistance." ~ Dictionary.com Don't let giving become a burden.
With this thought in mind, go back to your list and move any remaining names to the "acknowledge" or "gift" group
For those you want to give something additional, decide on a budget and stick to it. Remember, the gifts that we treasure have special meaning or trigger shared experience. Creativity can add value to the gift without increasing the cost.
For each person on your priority list, take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your shared experiences. This could be a time during the past month, or year, or it may have happened years ago. Put yourself fully in that moment and jot down your thoughts and feelings:
- sensory awareness: colors, sounds, smells, images
- music playing during that time
- sum it up in a word or phrase, maybe something you said at the time that conjures that memory
- did the memory happen in a favorite city or restaurant?
- What is one word to describe this person?
- Do you have a photo you can share?
Now you get to use your creative ability to re-create the emotion of this shared experience. This could be as simple as a gift card to that favorite restaurant, or as elaborate as a painting you create to mark the occasion. Let your imagination and your heart guide you. And for those of you who say, "I'm not creative", I'm not buying it. If you take the time to reflect on the receiver, who they are to you, what their presence in your life means to you, you cannot go wrong.
These gifts take more effort on your part because these people touch you in a way that adds richness and fullness to your life.
And the best part of giving in this way is the re-remembering of the special people and moments...a gift that gives back to you as it is given.
Join me next week for tips on travel during the holidays...
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Holidays: An 8-week journey of smiles
The 2010 holiday season has begun! Whether we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter solstice, New Year's, or a combination of these holidays, the next two months may wreak havoc with our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We shop, we eat, we party, we plan to visit every family member or friend, we redecorate our homes, we buy new clothes and we over-spend on gifts. Just thinking about it can send some folks into a panic attack!
So, if you are like me and have not started your shopping, or decorating, or... (insert dreaded chore here) fear not! The next several weeks we will trek the holidays together. Each week we take one step toward balance, health, and harmony. I will be sharing my thoughts and feelings along the way, and hope you will share yours too!
Step one: Create a plan
Creating a plan gives us a structure and a starting point.
You will need a blank calendar for the months of November and December (You may want to extend this into January.) Microsoft office has a calendar wizard. Get creative!
Now write in all the events, parties, travel plans, dinners, school performances, and special dates to which you've already committed. Be sure to write in actual start times (and finish times if you will attend more than one function in a day.) I like to color code my calendar entries according to major headings, like parties, or travel, or work functions. Come on, this can be fun!
Add in your schedule for work, school, carpool, etc.
Tip:
You'll want to keep this schedule handy to prevent over-committing.
Step two: Create a budget
Just like the schedule, a budget will help to prevent stress from over-spending.
You will need a notebook or computer file to write out the details of your plan.
For each item you have placed on your calendar, specify whether you will need to spend money on clothes, food, travel, gifts. Even if you have the perfect dress in your closet, pull it out, try it on. Does it need to be dry-cleaned? Do you have shoes, pantyhose, etc? These are the little extras that add up, sending us into overload. Make sure your spouse and kids do this too.
If the expenses you tally during this process exceed your budget, look at where you can make adjustments.
Tips:
The same dress can look completely different with different accessories. If you will be attending parties where the guest list overlaps, try adding a festive jacket, or colorful shawl. Change out your jewelry, your hairstyle, makeup and nail color.
Shop for outfits in the same color scheme so you can wear the same shoes.
For men, swap out a tie, or vest, or shirt for a completely different look.
When baking, double or triple the recipe and freeze several portions to take to different parties.
Baked items make a great relatively inexpensive gift! Package in festive boxes, jars, baskets that may double as a decoration or useful storage later. Think of your host/hostess and what might be meaningful for them.
So you have your calendar/basic structure and your budget. Feeling better yet? Or has this created a sense of overwhelm? This next step should help with the impending doom.
Step three: Meta-planning (planning the plan)
Break down each event, date, party, meal, outing on your calendar and realistically estimate prep time. For example, dinner at the neighbors might include baking or preparing a dish, clothing (purchase, cleaning or ironing, or simply getting dressed). Be sure to include other family members in your schedule. Of course more extensive or elaborate plans will include more preparation, so break it down into smaller steps.
Tips:
A good rule of thumb is to allow 2-1/2 times the amount of time you think you will need to complete a project. Let's face it, in a perfect world with no distractions, detours, or problems, we could breeze through assignments. But when was the last time that happened? Plan for these disruptions and you are pleasantly surprised when all goes well.
Look at least a week ahead when scheduling. In other words, shop this week for your parties next weekend. Avoid last minute trips to the store by laying out clothes, recipes, gifts a week in advance.
If you will be traveling during the holidays, plan to have mail held by a neighbor, or via www.usps.com. Plan to ship packages well in advance to insure their timely arrival. Plan your wardrobe to include mix and match items to save on space. Remember most airlines charge extra for your bags.
And now, the best part of this plan...
Each week, plan one block of time for you. For some, this is a bubble bath and nice soothing music. For others, this may be a movie or dinner out with your spouse or friend. Make it part of your preparation for a party - plan a spa mani-pedi date to catch up with girlfriends and relax at the same time! Mix it up, or keep it the same, but plan it. It will keep you smiling when everything starts getting crazy around you.
...next week: creative gifting, or out-of-the-box ideas.
So, if you are like me and have not started your shopping, or decorating, or... (insert dreaded chore here) fear not! The next several weeks we will trek the holidays together. Each week we take one step toward balance, health, and harmony. I will be sharing my thoughts and feelings along the way, and hope you will share yours too!
Step one: Create a plan
Creating a plan gives us a structure and a starting point.
You will need a blank calendar for the months of November and December (You may want to extend this into January.) Microsoft office has a calendar wizard. Get creative!
Now write in all the events, parties, travel plans, dinners, school performances, and special dates to which you've already committed. Be sure to write in actual start times (and finish times if you will attend more than one function in a day.) I like to color code my calendar entries according to major headings, like parties, or travel, or work functions. Come on, this can be fun!
Add in your schedule for work, school, carpool, etc.
Tip:
You'll want to keep this schedule handy to prevent over-committing.
Step two: Create a budget
Just like the schedule, a budget will help to prevent stress from over-spending.
You will need a notebook or computer file to write out the details of your plan.
For each item you have placed on your calendar, specify whether you will need to spend money on clothes, food, travel, gifts. Even if you have the perfect dress in your closet, pull it out, try it on. Does it need to be dry-cleaned? Do you have shoes, pantyhose, etc? These are the little extras that add up, sending us into overload. Make sure your spouse and kids do this too.
If the expenses you tally during this process exceed your budget, look at where you can make adjustments.
Tips:
The same dress can look completely different with different accessories. If you will be attending parties where the guest list overlaps, try adding a festive jacket, or colorful shawl. Change out your jewelry, your hairstyle, makeup and nail color.
Shop for outfits in the same color scheme so you can wear the same shoes.
For men, swap out a tie, or vest, or shirt for a completely different look.
When baking, double or triple the recipe and freeze several portions to take to different parties.
Baked items make a great relatively inexpensive gift! Package in festive boxes, jars, baskets that may double as a decoration or useful storage later. Think of your host/hostess and what might be meaningful for them.
So you have your calendar/basic structure and your budget. Feeling better yet? Or has this created a sense of overwhelm? This next step should help with the impending doom.
Step three: Meta-planning (planning the plan)
Break down each event, date, party, meal, outing on your calendar and realistically estimate prep time. For example, dinner at the neighbors might include baking or preparing a dish, clothing (purchase, cleaning or ironing, or simply getting dressed). Be sure to include other family members in your schedule. Of course more extensive or elaborate plans will include more preparation, so break it down into smaller steps.
Tips:
A good rule of thumb is to allow 2-1/2 times the amount of time you think you will need to complete a project. Let's face it, in a perfect world with no distractions, detours, or problems, we could breeze through assignments. But when was the last time that happened? Plan for these disruptions and you are pleasantly surprised when all goes well.
Look at least a week ahead when scheduling. In other words, shop this week for your parties next weekend. Avoid last minute trips to the store by laying out clothes, recipes, gifts a week in advance.
If you will be traveling during the holidays, plan to have mail held by a neighbor, or via www.usps.com. Plan to ship packages well in advance to insure their timely arrival. Plan your wardrobe to include mix and match items to save on space. Remember most airlines charge extra for your bags.
And now, the best part of this plan...
Each week, plan one block of time for you. For some, this is a bubble bath and nice soothing music. For others, this may be a movie or dinner out with your spouse or friend. Make it part of your preparation for a party - plan a spa mani-pedi date to catch up with girlfriends and relax at the same time! Mix it up, or keep it the same, but plan it. It will keep you smiling when everything starts getting crazy around you.
...next week: creative gifting, or out-of-the-box ideas.
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