Holidays
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. There is so much to do. So much to worry about. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make everything perfect. It never fails, we promise to take it easy, to do things ahead of time and to be able to simply enjoy the moments, and yet it never happens that way.
Maybe you are hosting for several guests this year. Perhaps it is just your immediate family that will be counting on you. There is even a chance you will be going to someone else's home to enjoy the holidays. All of these scenarios come with their own stresses.
For me, going to someone else's home requires getting the kids ready, making sure you have your dish or the things you are contributing all ready to go. If you have little ones you have to pack for them. If it is a gift giving event, you have to be sure you have all the gifts ready to go. The car has to be packed up and somehow you have to get everyone out of the door and on the road in time (on time rarely happens for us.)
Cooking at home, no matter how many people, requires an immense amount of planning, shopping, prepping and the cooking. If you are having company, you will inevitably spend a lot of time cleaning every crevice of your home, we all want to welcome people into a spotless home. If you are just entertaining your immediate family there is the task of keeping everyone happy and entertained so that they will leave you to your cooking rather than bugging you every 2 seconds.
I hope that you know it is okay for things to go wrong. It is okay for it to be imperfect and messy. If you struggle with chronic issues, you never know what kind of day you are going to have, so here are a few tips to help my chronic friends get through a bit easier:
- prep as much as you can in the days before. Anything that can be made ahead of time, make it when you feel well and throw it in the fridge or freezer.
- ask for help! Do not be afraid to tell your family you need some assistance. The kids love to help in the kitchen most of the time. Get them in there and enjoy the time together.
- remember to pace yourself. Start early and go slow. Don't set yourself up for failure by trying to do everything at once.
- take breaks. Anytime you need to stop, stop. Do not push yourself too hard or beyond your limits. It will just leave you in a bad place.
- remember what the holidays are about. No matter what you celebrate, remember what it all means. It is not just about food or gifts, so don't forget to spend as much time as possible simply enjoying the ones you love.
Maybe you are hosting for several guests this year. Perhaps it is just your immediate family that will be counting on you. There is even a chance you will be going to someone else's home to enjoy the holidays. All of these scenarios come with their own stresses.
For me, going to someone else's home requires getting the kids ready, making sure you have your dish or the things you are contributing all ready to go. If you have little ones you have to pack for them. If it is a gift giving event, you have to be sure you have all the gifts ready to go. The car has to be packed up and somehow you have to get everyone out of the door and on the road in time (on time rarely happens for us.)
Cooking at home, no matter how many people, requires an immense amount of planning, shopping, prepping and the cooking. If you are having company, you will inevitably spend a lot of time cleaning every crevice of your home, we all want to welcome people into a spotless home. If you are just entertaining your immediate family there is the task of keeping everyone happy and entertained so that they will leave you to your cooking rather than bugging you every 2 seconds.
I hope that you know it is okay for things to go wrong. It is okay for it to be imperfect and messy. If you struggle with chronic issues, you never know what kind of day you are going to have, so here are a few tips to help my chronic friends get through a bit easier:
- prep as much as you can in the days before. Anything that can be made ahead of time, make it when you feel well and throw it in the fridge or freezer.
- ask for help! Do not be afraid to tell your family you need some assistance. The kids love to help in the kitchen most of the time. Get them in there and enjoy the time together.
- remember to pace yourself. Start early and go slow. Don't set yourself up for failure by trying to do everything at once.
- take breaks. Anytime you need to stop, stop. Do not push yourself too hard or beyond your limits. It will just leave you in a bad place.
- remember what the holidays are about. No matter what you celebrate, remember what it all means. It is not just about food or gifts, so don't forget to spend as much time as possible simply enjoying the ones you love.
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