Everyone I’ve spoken to seems excited about the holidays but is also a bit overwhelmed! The idea of getting swarmed by hordes of people in a mad marathon, all trying to hit the finish line at the same time, in an effort to get their Christmas shopping done creates a little stress for most of us. Add to that the many events and time spent with family members, some of which includes getting caught in a web of outdated dynamics. All of this causes some of us some definite trepidation. And let’s not forget the planning of the big events AND trying to finish up projects before the year is up!…. So, I think it’s time for a fresh approach this year. Let’s do it with ease and simplicity and a lot of laughter instead!. Here are some helpful tips on how to get through the holidays without the headaches.

Start a relationship with Online Shopping – it’s fast, it’s friendly and it always satisfies. For those of you that have not yet discovered this wonderful advance in technology, let me paint a picture. You get home from a long day at work, put on something comfy, make a nice meal, pour yourself a nice glass of wine, grab your shopping list and plop yourself down on the sofa. It’s a good time now to kiss your tablet or mobile phone, because it’s about to make you very very happy. Why not buy everything you CAN buy – online – and skip the mad dash? You beat the rush, you get great deals starting at Thanksgiving and you don’t have to fight your way through the crowds. It even comes in a box, delivered, AND gift wrapped, right to your door! Sigh. Bliss!

Create a mental schedule of when you’ll be busy with holiday commitments and when you’ll have time to do other things, like relax. If you’re busy planning or shopping, schedule it, say till 9 pm, then after 9, disconnect, not just from the act of shopping but also the act of thinking about all of it. Be present in what you’re doing and say….”it’s not my busy time. I did that already. It’s my time to relax”. There is nowhere else I need to be except right here in this moment, looking after myself.

Appreciate the comedy in your family. As weird and wonderful as they are, family time brings out the nerves in us all. Set the intention that if those moments come up, that you will take a deep breath and see how comical it can be. Imagine your family is a romantic comedy… and you’re all just characters in the great story of your life. Shakespeare said… “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players…” So… before you begin the evening, just imagine the night unfolding with laughter and lightness and grace. This allows you to set the intention and visualize an evening free of tension, so that if something does come up, you can let go of the emotion of it, and embrace the gorgeous, the strange and the lovely that is family.

Try these three tips this holiday season and enjoy how easy it is…Happy Holidays to all!!

Zahra Karsan, NLP