If you feel like the holidays were a whirlwind that left you dizzy and frazzled, you’re probably ready to reclaim your calm. Your holidays were likely different in some ways due to the pandemic, but there was still plenty to distract and overwhelm you. Checking off shopping lists, planning cross-country zoom meetings, finding new ways to make the holidays meaningful during this crazy time filled your head. It was fun, but you’re ready to re-focus for the year ahead.
Here are a few ways to do just that!
Schedule a Big Date (With Yourself)
The first step in reclaiming your calm is to be intentional about it. You can do this by setting aside time to sit in quietness and think about the upcoming year. Many people find it helpful to joy down highlights from the past year of what went well and what didn’t.
Then, think about what you want your life to look like in the future. This differs from making New Year’s resolutions. Rather, it’s about overall purpose and big picture planning.
Know Your Personality
Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert can have a lot to do with how you find calm after a busy holiday season. If you’re an introvert, you’re probably going to want to create extra time for quiet, solitary activities.
Calm Beginnings
Many people say that how your day goes depends on how it starts. Are there simple things you can do to start your morning with calmness? Preparing lunches and setting clothes out ahead is one popular way.
Some feel better if they do a quick kitchen pickup in the evenings, so they have clear counters in the morning. Maybe you can shower at night. Find solutions that work for you. These can be extra helpful after the busy holiday season.
Find Your Center
What things help you feel calmer and centered? What restores your sense of clarity? For many moms, it’s escaping to a quiet bathroom for a few minutes. Maybe you can turn off the radio, TV, or podcasts that compete for valuable headspace. Set a timer for three minutes of deep breathing. Diffuse a favorite essential oil when the house is quiet in order to create an association of calm with the scent.
These are just a few ideas. Once you find some that help you regain your center when things are chaotic, implement them frequently.
Do a Spending Fast
The holidays are easily the busiest shopping season of the year. Your financial life can feel anything but calm after you receive your credit card bills or balance your checkbook. Doing a “spending fast” is becoming a popular way to hit the reset button after holiday spending.
You can create your guidelines to fit your situation. Decide what types of purchases are allowable (i.e., groceries, utilities, transportation, etc.) and what you’ll take a break from and for how long. This can be a double-win. Not only will your wallet thank you, but you’ll free up valuable time by avoiding the distractions and decision making required by shopping.
Declutter
This is a popular piece of advice after the holidays, likely for obvious reasons. If you’re like most Americans, you’ve just said hello to a bunch of new belongings in the forms of gifts. Now there’s more stuff in your house, possibly making things feel cluttered.
Clutter itself can create anxiety. You don’t have to do a deep purge, but take time to declutter when you can.
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Even though you may have left the holidays feeling frazzled, you can start anew with calm. If you continue to feel overwhelmed and anxious, you can l reach out to me or go to anxiety treatment.