10 Tricks to Holiday Pacing
Ah, the holiday season is right around the corner!
Holiday music is already playing in stores, Halloween is over, and Thanksgiving is upon us. ‘Tis the season of expectations, parties, and all things pressure. Many people experience increased pain and stress over the holidays.
The problem is the expectation of making the holidays perfect. This unrealistic expectation can leave you running in circles and accomplishing little. That’s why holiday pacing is so important. If you don’t pace yourself, you may find yourself in a heap on the bed after it’s all over, having enjoyed nothing.
Remember, your family wants you—not all the stuff that comes with the season.
I wish I could go back to my pain years and talk to myself, realizing I was exhausting myself to give my family things they didn’t want or need. You know what my kids’ favorite tradition is? It’s matching PJs the night before Christmas! Ordered online! Not the dozens of cookies, not the handmade Christmas cards, not the huge Thanksgiving feast. Playing games and matching jammies. Sigh. So here is a list of 10 ways I NOW make my holidays easier—and I’m thankful for it!
10 Keys to Holiday Pacing
- Be Realistic – Don’t plan more than you know you can accomplish. Determine what’s really important and break it down into small steps. SKIP the rest.
- Do Not Overschedule – If you don’t have the energy to attend three drop-in parties in one afternoon, then don’t! Pick the one that’s most important and go to that one.
- Learn to Say “NO” – If someone asks you to participate in something that you know you won’t have the energy for, politely decline. It’s perfectly okay to say no.
- Decide What Is Really Important – You may enjoy hand-wrapping all the presents in coordinated paper and bows, but using gift bags can be easier. Is it really THAT important to wrap them instead of putting them in bags? The paper ends up ripped to shreds in minutes, so the answer is no!
- Change Traditions to Match Your Energy Levels – In the past, you may have prepared a Thanksgiving meal with a hundred dishes and desserts. Pick which ones are the most special and cut out the rest. If someone has something to say about it, ask them to bring the item they’ll miss. Better yet, turn it into a potluck and have everyone bring a side dish or dessert. It’s more important that you can enjoy family time.
- Shop Online – Did you know that many Black Friday sales are available online and sometimes hours before the stores open? Check each store, as you might find what you want without standing in line for hours. And for those who LOVE the thrill of the hunt and the bustle of Black Friday, prioritize it! Use a walking aid, take your meds, and enjoy!
- Pay for Wrapping for Online Orders – If the stores you’re ordering from offer wrapping services, take advantage of this (if your budget allows). This time saver means you only have to open the box, label it, and put it under the tree! It always looks better than when I do it, anyway!
- Order Online for Out-of-Town Family and Have It Shipped to Them – This is a big one! It seems like a no-brainer, but I only figured it out last year! I ordered gifts for my mom and several others from Amazon last year. I paid for wrapping and had them shipped directly to her. The wrapping fee was covered by what I would have spent on mailing things, saving me from standing in line at the post office. Gotta love online shopping!
- Get Plenty of Rest – In the week leading up to big events, ensure you’re getting plenty of rest. If you’re already run down, those events will only make things worse.
- Make a List of Things You Need to Get Done – Nothing makes my anxiety soar like having a bunch to do running around in my head at 90 mph. Writing it down takes my brain out of the equation. There’s something so satisfying about checking things off the list!
If you need help learning the art of pacing, check out this course I designed just for you.
Take care of yourself this holiday season. Learn to pace yourself with realistic expectations of your chronic pain and check out these blog posts in case flares come despite your best efforts!
6 ideas to get through a pain flare
When to Worry About Pain: Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore
10 things I wish I had known about pain flares
