17 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

November 23, 2018 | Leave a Comment

In my life, things start feeling crazy and stressful right around the end of August when school begins for the kids. And it just gets crazier and more stressful all the way until about a week into the New Year. That’s a long time for life to feel crazy, I know.

You see, we have the start of school, then my daughter’s birthday, then my son’s birthday, then Halloween, then Thanksgiving (which we host now), and then all the craziness and busyness of Christmas, topped off with Christmas break and New Years. Everything feels back to back and I don’t ever feel like we have enough time to recover in between events.

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling a little overwhelmed this time of year.

When I think of the perfect holiday season I think of cozy nights by the fireplace (that we don’t have), snuggled up under blankets (that don’t smell like stinky feet), watching Christmas movies, reading books, sipping hot cocoa, and relaxing. I think of smiles and laughter and loads of family time. I think about memories made and traditions kept and a whole season full of peace and joy.

But usually, I feel like we’re rushing from here to there with to do lists a mile long and the perfect holiday season of my dreams is a far cry from our actual reality.

Plan and Prepare to Make Room for Less Holiday Stress

If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it is that in order to experience anything in life you have to be intentional and plan ahead. If you don’t plan and prepare for calm and peaceful, you won’t ever experience it. If you don’t intentionally pursue relaxation and fun memories, they won’t actually happen.

So this holiday season I’ve decided to be very intentional about what we experience in the coming weeks. I’m planning and blocking out our calendar and protecting the calm and peaceful holiday of my dreams.

First things first, in order to create a season of relaxation and calm instead of one filled with stress and busyness you’re going to need to do some planning, some preparing, and some deleting of things that don’t matter.

Check out this post on 8 Steps to a More Peaceful Holiday Season to get you started. This will help you create a plan and create space on your calendar to intentionally pursue the activities and items in the list below.

If you try to cram extra things into an already overwhelmed and packed schedule, even if those things are supposed to be calm and peaceful, you won’t actually be able to relax and everything will feel forced. So start by tackling your calendar and creating a plan so you can make room for rest. Again, this post will help, check it out and then come back here.

Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

Are we good? We’ve got the list of things we need to do. A list of people we need to buy gifts for. We’ve put all the already scheduled events on our calendar. And we’ve begun to make some progress on deleting and delegating tasks and activities so we aren’t trying to do it all.

Now that we’ve got that stuff out of the way, let’s intentionally choose some things to include this holiday season that are guaranteed to lower our stress levels and bring a sense of calm and peace. Here are some ideas for you to consider incorporating over the coming month to reduce your holiday stress.

1. Pull out your coziest blankets.

Nothing says relax and rest like soft, warm, and cozy blankets. You may have tucked them away for the summer, but find your best blankets and a cute basket and set them out to be enjoyed. You might also want to take this opportunity to launder your blankets because no one wants to snuggle with musty storage closet or stinky feet smells.

2. Stay hydrated with teas, cocoa, and cider.

You know you need to drink more water to stay healthy, but most people struggle to get enough fluid in their body each day, especially in the wintertime. You aren’t hot and sweaty like you were in the summer, so you might not be as thirsty. But you still need to drink your fluids.

If you struggle with getting enough fluids in the winter, because ice cold lemon water doesn’t sound great in the bitter cold of winter, then don’t stress about it. Give yourself permission to enjoy a warm mug of tea, hot cocoa, or a hot apple cider each day. Sure, the cider and cocoa could add a few more calories to your day, but practice moderation and live a little. And if you enjoy a warm mug of tea without cream or sugar then you’ve got no extra calories to worry about. Warm and festive drinks are the perfect recipe to help you relax.

3. Turn on the Christmas tunes.

Turn on some Christmas music and take the time to enjoy. Have a dance party with your kids, a romantic slow dance under the mistletoe with your husband, or just close your eyes and enjoy. You can also just have your Christmas music as the background noise instead of the TV once in a while.

4. Diffuse holiday scents.

Whether you use an essential oil diffuser or just throw some orange peels and cinnamon in a saucepan on the stove, good smells always make you feel more cozy and relaxed. I base the smells I choose on my mood, sometimes I might be in the mood for pumpkin spice, sometimes orange pomander, sometimes Christmas trees, or maybe even warm sugar cookies. Good smells can go a long way in boosting your mood and helping you feel festive and joyful.

This post can get you started on enjoying essential oils in your home.

5. Read good books.

We have a special basket of Christmas books that only come out after Thanksgiving. My kids love to snuggle under the blankets and read these books together. I also like to find a few easy reads for myself this time of year. Most of the year I read lots of non-fiction books, but during the holidays I crave an easy story I can get lost in. Bonus points if the book is Christmas themed. Our local library usually puts out a big display of holiday books this time of year so they are easy to find and borrow.

6. Schedule time off work, if possible.

Everyone’s schedules tend to get extra busy around the holidays. With holiday parties and events, extra shopping to do, errands to run, and goodies to bake. My work tends to be fairly busy this time of year, but I do try to find some time to take off of work to help ease my personal life schedule.

Even if your employer just allows for flexible hours that let you to go in a little early or work through your lunch break a few days so you can take off early on Friday, it can make a big difference. Use the extra time off wisely.

7. Go outside and get some fresh air.

Most people start hibernating when the season begins to change over to winter and we spend all of our time indoors. We rush from our house to our car and the parking lot to the buildings, avoiding fresh air like the plague. I get it, the air is cold, and depending on where you live, there may be snow and a permacloud. But after running outside nearly every day for the past 3 1/2 years, I can promise you that no matter the weather, getting outside each day (or even most days) can make a world of difference.

Learn to embrace the outdoors and whatever weather is out there and I promise it will improve your life. You don’t need to live outside, just spend 5-10 minutes outside each and every day.

8. Exercise.

I know, there’s a good chance that you don’t think that exercise belongs in a list of ways to relax, but it is probably one of the most important items on the list. This is crazy talk to many people, but when I go for a run on a cold and snowy day it is one of the most relaxing things I can do. The snow falls so gently and looks so gorgeous on the trees, there’s a hush in the air as the birds and the lawnmowers are gone for the season, and it’s just me and the crunch of the snow beneath my feet. And then I come home and feel energized, accomplished, and ready to relax (or work, depending on my schedule).

You don’t have to go for a run, but do something to get your heart rate up and work up a bit of a sweat every day. This post will help you find ways to get motivated to workout in the winter.

9. Schedule time at home.

You won’t ever have that cozy, relaxing time at home that you dream of if you aren’t ever home. And your schedule will continue to be filled with things to do until you start saying “no, we’re busy”. So, before your schedule fills up, pull out your calendar now and block off specific days to be at home, preferably as a family. These are your times when you will relax and snuggle, dance, play, laugh, and enjoy. Schedule this time and protect it.

10. Laugh.

One of the best ways to relieve stress and anxiety is to laugh. Watch funny Christmas movies, play board games as a family, read a funny book, or just do silly things. Whatever works best to get you and your family laughing, be sure to schedule it in.

11. Drop the phone.

Walk away from the technology and the endless stream of messages about what you “should” be doing or what everyone else is participating in this time of year. Be present for your own life and your own family. Put away the phones, the iPads, and the computers. Give your brain a break and you’ll probably discover that you have a whole lot more time on your hands than you thought. And you won’t be stuck in the negativity of comparison world.

12. Consider volunteering another time.

This one might get me in trouble, but I’m going to say it anyway. There are 12 months in a year. It seems that there is a giant push to give and serve our communities in December, which is wonderful. We should help our communities. The holidays can be a really hard time for disadvantaged people. But every day can be hard for disadvantaged people.

If you’ve only ever volunteered your time around the holidays and it is stressing you out then maybe you can consider partnering with an organization to volunteer another time of the year. When Jesus said to love your neighbor He didn’t just mean at His birthday, so drop the guilt and schedule it another time.

13. Be present.

One of the reasons we have such a hard time relaxing is because our minds are in a hundred places at once. We might be sitting on the couch with our kids but we’re thinking about the laundry that needs to be folded, we’re making a mental list of the supplies we need at the store and talking to our husband about the schedule for next week.

Stop going in a million different directions and be in one place, doing one thing at a time. When you’re at work, be at work, when you’re at home be fully at home. Work hard, play hard, and relax hard. Wherever you find yourself at and whatever you find yourself doing, be fully there.

14. Stay positive.

The holidays are a wonderful, beautiful, and joy-filled time, or at least they are supposed to be. But how often are we short-tempered, grumpy, and focused on the negative. We are frustrated at our busy schedule, annoyed that there’s never enough money in the bank, mad at our husband for not helping enough, and bothered by all the work we have to do at our jobs. Perhaps instead, we should learn to focus on the positives we have going on. There is always an upside to every situation. Look for it and think about those things the most.

If you struggle with being a positive person, this post can help.

15. Don’t be a victim.

Newsflash, you are fully responsible for your own life. If you don’t like your life or your circumstances, that’s on you. You have the power to change your life, if you want to. So instead of pointing fingers and blaming and constantly being frustrated by your own situation, do something different.

You don’t actually have to do anything during the holidays. You don’t have to bake the cookies or go to the parties or buy thousands of dollars worth of gifts. Everything you do is because you are choosing to do it. Think through the things that cause you the most stress during the holidays and then start making changes. Say no, cross things off the to-do list, and actively pursue the life you actually want to live. It’s your life, you’re the only one in charge of living it well.

This post can help you develop the mindset you need to take control of your own life.

16. Create a family bucket list.

Take some time to sit down with your family and come up with a holiday “bucket list”. Have each person come up with the things they really want to do before the end of the year. This could be things like go look at Christmas lights, pick out a real tree at the farm, watch the Nutcracker, go sledding, drink hot cocoa, do the Elf on the Shelf, bake cookies, or whatever traditions and activities your family loves.

Depending on your schedule and family’s desires you might need to narrow the original list down. Say your list can’t be longer than 10 items, for example, or everyone gets to add two activities to the list. Then, all throughout the month use your list to make decisions. If it’s not something on your list then it’s probably not a priority for anyone in your family so do you really need to do it? If you want to reduce holiday stress, probably not.

17. Be grateful.

Don’t just be thankful at Thanksgiving. It can be easy to move into Scrooge attitude during the month of December, but the quickest way to get rid of Scrooge-tude is by being grateful. Look around, you really are incredibly blessed. I promise. Each day, pull out a piece of paper and jot down at least three things you are thankful for. Whenever you start feeling grumpy and frustrated pull out your list and brainstorm a couple more.

To Summarize

My goal with this list is not to add another 17 things to your to-do list. My hope is that you will use this list to start imagining and planning and creating a better way to reduce holiday stress. I’ve included items that will affect all 5 senses as well as activities to help your mental, spiritual, and physical health. All of these areas are really important for reducing stress.

Jot down which of the above ideas sound the most relaxing and stress-relieving to you and then find a way to fit them in. Everyone is different so what sounds relaxing to me could sound exhausting to you, or vice versa. I’m an introvert so you might notice that my relaxing Christmas season involves a lot of being home with my small family. You might prefer the opposite.

Take some time to figure out what fuels you and what your best Christmas season looks like and then take control and make it happen.

Experience Gift Ideas from Preschoolers to Teens

November 24, 2017 | 1 Comment

I would not call myself a minimalist. I thought that might be a neat thing to do for a while and then I realized that I just don’t have a minimalist personality.

Minimalists might feel that the only appliances they need are a fridge and an oven, while I, on the other hand, feel that I need every last appliance known to mankind. If something can make my life easier or save me time or effort than I am all in. Not exactly a minimalist approach to life.

However, I’m drawn to the minimalists’ way of life each year when the fall and winter hits. You see, both my kids have fall birthdays which lead directly into the Christmas season. It is a month after month gift extravaganza for our household.

And by the time December 26th hits I’m usually panicking in the fetal position in the corner because there is just so. much. stuff. So many toys. So many boxes. So much chaos.

I’ve heard it through the motherhood grapevine that I am not the only one. Our homes are flooded with stuff already and each year we just add more to the crazy.

I’m not at all against gifts. And I’m definitely not against toys. I want my kids to get gifts and I want them to have fun toys.

But what I’ve realized is that the things my kids remember the most are not things at all. The things that I remember most throughout my life have not been things either. It is the experiences and events in life that tend to have the biggest impact.

Which is why my goal recently has been to focus more on experiences in life than stuff. We don’t need more stuff to live a great life. I want to offer gifts of joy, great memories, laughter, and unforgettable experiences.

If you’re trying to move toward more experiences in life instead of more stuff then use this list of gift ideas to spark some creativity to help you develop some great memories with your family. Be sure to share this list with grandparents and other family members as well. Experiences with grandparents, aunts, uncles and the like can be incredibly meaningful for kids.

{I designed this list so you can just scroll to the age range you are looking for, so if you read all the way through there may be some sections that repeat since they are great gift ideas for multiple age ranges.}

Experience Gift Ideas for PreSchoolers

Shows/Plays

There are a number of Live shows that tour the country that your littlest kids might enjoy, from Paw Patrol Live to Sesame Street Live and many more. These shows bring the characters your kids watch on TV to life on a live stage.

Our local theaters also regularly host different events geared specifically for young kids. Whether it be the Nutcracker or another play or musical that kids might enjoy. We’ve taken our daughter to see The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and she has loved the experiences.

Movie Tickets

Do you remember the first movie you saw in the theater? Our kids love the chance to go to the movie theater to see a great movie. Our local movie theater now has luxury reclining seats, so we load up a bag with blankets and head to the theater for a fun family time.

Season Pass for the Zoo or Kid’s Museum

If your kids love going to the local zoo or kid-themed museum why not grab a season pass as a gift for them so you can head there as often as your schedule allows. Family time together, having fun and learning new things is definitely time well spent.

Subscription Box

Subscription boxes are all the rage these days and of course, they have them for kids. Every kid will be thrilled just to get something in the mail. But to get a box in the mail each month with fun activities, snacks, or cool clothes makes this a perfect experience gift for kids.

There are subscription boxes available for just about every activity and personality. Whether your kid likes cooking, crafts, STEAM, building, or reading, there is certainly a box for them. To get you started, some of the ones I’ve looked into for my kids are boxes from Kiwi Crate (get 60% through 11/27 using this link), Little Passports, and Green Kids Crafts (use code BLACK17 to get 70% off your first box or code BFGET40 to get 40% off a single box through the weekend only), just to name a few to get you going.

My kids are also huge fans of Rockets of Awesome. If you are looking for a unique, comfortable, and fun clothing source for your kids then you need to check out Rockets of Awesome. Think Stitch Fix, but for kids. Each season your kids will receive a box of clothes (8-12 items) tailored specifically for their liking. You can keep what you like and send back what you don’t. My kids adore their Rockets of Awesome clothes. Use this link to get a free item on your first shipment.

Magazine Subscription

Did you ever receive Highlights magazines as a kid? My kids have received them before and they still read through them on a regular basis. Nowadays there are a ton of magazines available geared specifically for kids. If your kids love to read about new things, definitely consider signing them up for a magazine subscription so they can get fun mail each month.

Games for Family Game Night

The game itself may not be an experience, but the chance to play the games on a scheduled family game night can be an incredible experience for your kids. It can be tricky to find games that fit every age group in your family. If you’ve got preschoolers, be sure you have at least a few games on hand that they can play and enjoy.

Some great game night options for preschoolers include Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Pie Face, Spot It, Charades for Kids, and Hoot Owl Hoot.

Vacation

I was talking with one of the mom’s at my daughter’s school a while back and she mentioned that for their kids’ birthdays they have the option to have a big friend party or go on a trip. Her kids always pick the trip. It’s a win-win. She doesn’t have to plan a stressful kid party and they all get to go on a mini-vacation together. I thought this was such a fun idea.

Vacations are incredible experiences for our kids with lots of opportunities for memory making. And they don’t always have to cost thousands of dollars. You can do a day trip to a nearby big city or you could stay with friends or family in another town. Over the summer we rented a cabin at a campground on the beach. It cost a third of what a hotel would cost and it was the perfect experience to just relax on the beach all week long.

The biggest thing my son talks about from our family vacation to Texas a couple years ago was our lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. On that trip, we also went to a water park, Legoland, the zoo, an aquarium, and more, but his favorite was that one restaurant. We don’t have a Rainforest Cafe nearby, but my sister lives near one, so I’ve promised him a mini vacation a few hours out of town to go again.

Experience Gift Ideas for Elementary Kids

Play or Musical Tickets

As I mentioned above, your local theater may have a show series that is specifically designed for kids and there are many plays and musicals that are great for all ages. Grab some tickets for the kids in your life and give them a fun night out that they won’t forget.

Movie Tickets

Nearly every kid loves going to the movies. For this age group, it might even be fun if you get an extra ticket or two so they can bring a friend of their choice.

Lessons

Music lessons, karate lessons, swim lessons, soccer, basketball camp, cheerleading. If the kids in your life want to try every activity known to man, it can get quite pricey (and taxing on the schedule). It is a great idea to include a series of lessons as part of a birthday or Christmas gift.

This can be an incredibly great gift from a grandparent (or aunt/uncle). Just make sure to run this by the parents to make sure the lessons fit the family schedule. Bonus points if grandma/grandpa even offers to take the child to their lessons once in a while. The quality time with someone special can mean a lot to a kid and it can give the parents a break from carpooling duty.

Museum, Amusement Park, or Zoo Membership

Most kids at this age love going to parks and museums to experience new things. They learn new things too, but we don’t have to tell them all that. Grab a season pass so they can go to their favorite place again and again.

Don’t forget about the active places to for kids this age. If you have a SkyZone or similar trampoline or bounce house location nearby, elementary kids would have a blast with a gift of trip there. They may also like to go bowling, roller/ice skating, and more.

Craft or Science Bucket, Supplies, or Kits

If you know a kid who loves to do arts and crafts, they would be ecstatic to receive some new supplies or a fun kit, especially if it’s for a project you can work on together. You can mix and match a variety of supplies in a bucket or basket. Or if you’re like me and a little craft-phobic, there are numerous kits on the market that include everything you need.

You can buy a ready-made art jar (like this one) or create your own. You could also buy a “make your own” kit which will include all the supplies for a specific project(s). They have them for all sorts of crafts, such as wind chimes, soap, a terrarium, sewing kits, and even a kid’s pottery wheel.

If your kid isn’t into crafts but is into science, there are tons of science kits available that include ideas and supplies for a variety of projects. You can do the projects with them to make it an extra special experience. We’ve worked through a number of Scientific Explorer kits with my daughter and she always has a blast and learns something new. Each of their kits provides supplies and instructions for lots of different projects.

Journal

I recently talked about the Mommy and Me Journal that I started with my daughter last year. Starting a journal like this with your child would be a wonderful gift. You can read all about it here.

Subscription Box

Elementary kids will love subscription boxes too. Again, there are subscription boxes available for just about every activity and personality. Whether your kid likes cooking, crafts, STEAM, building, or reading, there is certainly a box for them. To get you started, some of the ones I’ve looked into for my kids are boxes from Kiwi Crate (get 60% through 11/27 using this link), Little Passports, and Green Kids Crafts (use code BLACK17 to get 70% off your first box or code BFGET40 to get 40% off a single box through the weekend only), just to name a few to get you going.

Vacation

Elementary aged kids love to go exploring and visit new places. They are also finally at an age where they will actually remember the places you go. Take advantage of this great season of life and go exploring. Find a way to spend less on “stuff” so you can go on more trips to explore and experience all that the world has to offer.

Games for Family Game Night

Some fun games for Elementary ages kids include many of the ones I listed in the preschooler section as well as Apples to Apples Junior, Connect 4, Uno, Yahtzee, Hedbanz, Yeti in My Spaghetti, and many more. Games nights are such a fun time for everyone in the family.

Experience Gifts for Tweens and Teens

Tickets/Passes for Local Activities

I’m talking about ski passes if you are near a snow skiing park/resort. Bowling, ice skating, miniature golf, laser tag, rock climbing, and more. This depends a little based on what is available in your area and what the teen/tween in your life enjoys, but most of these places probably have gift cards or season passes that you could gift to someone.

Tickets to a Play/Musical/Concert

Some kids this age may be ready to enjoy the same plays or musicals that you enjoy. This can be a great bonding and quality time experience to take your teen/tween to a show. Dress up nice, go out for dinner, and make it a fun one on one event.

And just about everyone at this age has a favorite band or performing artist. Surprise them with tickets to a concert when their favorites come to town.

Tickets to a Sporting Event

Whether it’s your local college, professional, or semi-pro team, there are a number of teens and tweens who would be excited for the chance to watch their favorite team play their favorite sport. Grab some tickets and cheer them on together.

Movie Tickets

At this age, you might want to give extra tickets so they can bring their friends instead of you, but they will still enjoy the experience and have a great time.

Subscription Boxes

Monthly subscription boxes are a fantastic gift for teens and tweens as well. There area a couple box styles from Kiwi Crate for kids ages 9-16 (use this link for 60% off this weekend) that you may want to check out. You can also begin looking at some of the more “grown up” themed boxes for this age group.

The young lady in your life might love a subscription to All Girls’ Shave Club to get pink razors and other fun bath/shaving products in the mail. Alternatively, the young men can get a package from Dollar Shave Club. You might also look into a makeup subscription like Ipsy for the ladies.

If you have a young adult reader in your life, be sure to check out a young adult inspired book box membership to keep them stocked up with new books and other book related gifts. This one from OwlCrate looks awesome!

Vacation

Time spent with the most important adults in their life can be incredibly important for kids this age, but it can be hard to make happen when they are busy with friends, sports, and schoolwork. Add that to the fact that many of them might feel they are “too cool” for the grownups in their life and things can get tricky. But take them some place fun, a mini trip to the big city, for example, and they might just be much more willing participants.

Games for Family Game Night

Be sure to keep family game night alive, even through the teen years. It can be even more fun for grown ups at this age because you can play games that everyone enjoys. Games that teens and tweens might enjoy include Taboo, Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, Beat the Parents, and Speak Out just to name a few.

Give the Gift of a Great Experience

You know the kids in your life the best. Think through the things that they love the most and find a way to gift them an experience they can’t forget. That kind of gift can last far longer than the latest flashy toy of the season that will only be played with for two days.

What experience gift ideas to you have? Share in the comments if you have something to add to the list.

Finding Peace on Earth

December 21, 2016 | Leave a Comment

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 (NLT)

This Christmas season I am following a scripture writing plan that involves writing out a few verses of the Christmas story each day. It has been great to be able to have these small moments each day to study and reflect on the real reason for all the hustle and bustle of this season.

Today’s scripture writing included Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” As I wrote out those words my mind was wandering but as I finished the sentence everything screeched to a halt. Wait, what did that just say? “Peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

In my mind, let there be peace on earth has always meant peace all over the earth, to everyone. But that’s not what it says. It says, peace on earth specifically to those with whom God is pleased.

I did a little research because there are translations (that you may be familiar with) that say something along the lines of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” (KJV) which seems to include everyone. So which one is it? Apparently, there is a great debate, but most modern scholars believe that the most accurate translation of the ancient Greek texts is peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased (or to whom His favor rests).

You see, until Jesus returns, there will always be injustice, turmoil, sin, and sorrow on this Earth. His birth did not bring an immediate change in the fact that life on earth is anything but peaceful. But His birth did bring a piece of heaven down to earth. Jesus’ birth and later death and resurrection brought us a Savior to rescue and redeem us from the sins of this world. We can now have a personal connection with the Prince of Peace that we might find peace in the midst of the chaos of this world.

Later, when Jesus is nearing His death, He tells His disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). We are not promised an earth filled with peace or a life filled with peace. We are promised a personal peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of our anything-but-peaceful world.

In Romans 15:13, Paul writes, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Peace doesn’t just happen, peace is the result of trust. It is the result of placing our hope in the only One who holds all the power.

If you are going through a season that feels anything but peaceful, may I point you to God’s promise of peace? In this world, we will have trouble and sorrow and heartache. It will be busy and stressful and chaotic. But when we place our hope, our trust, and create our firm foundation upon Jesus, we can find a peace in the midst of the crazy that surpasses all of our understanding. We can find a confidence to know that even when everything shakes and falls apart, He is with us, He is for us, and we will never, ever be alone.

Glory to God in highest heaven and on earth peace to those who place their trust in Him. Are you trusting in Him my friend?

Today’s Action Step:

Spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to infuse you with His gift of peace. Pray that He would guide you into trusting Him in all areas of your life and placing all of your hope in His glorious power. Take some time to journal out some of the areas of your life in which you are struggling to find peace, surrender them to God, and rest in the knowledge that He is good, He is faithful, and He’s got it covered.

Additional Resources:

Some links are affiliate links, see disclosure.

If you struggle with negative emotions, this post might help you work through your emotions to find more peace.

Need help finding peace during the holiday season? This post can help.

If you are looking for a way to infuse your everyday with God’s word and presence, I highly recommend the Jesus Calling devotional. Each day has just a short little reading and a few verses to reflect on, but the messages are powerful and uplifting and can be a great source to find God’s peace.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have a visual reminder of our source of peace. I love this beautiful
In Me You May Have Peace – Wooden Plaque from DaySpring.

Do you feel like your life is crazy and hectic and you need a little extra practical direction on how to find peace in the middle of the crazy? Sign up for the Working Mom’s Balance email club to get regular content designed to help you manage it all as well as access to our Free Life Balance Worksheet. Sign up here!

5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

December 8, 2016 | Leave a Comment

This weekend my family will enjoy our annual Christmas cookie exchange. It is one of our most exciting family events all year. We have been having this cookie exchange since I was a young child and now my kids look forward to this day for months!

All of my extended family (and often many friends as well) bake multiple batches of cookies and brings them to the exchange. My aunt bakes millions of Christmas shaped sugar cookies (it at least feels like millions of cookies after a few hours) and we sit around and decorate the cookies, snack on crackers and meatballs, and overall have a great time. There is lots of cookie eating and icing licking happening as well. Usually, my kids will decorate a few cookies, eat a bunch of cookies, and spend the rest of the time running around trying to burn off all the sugar.

At the end of the day, we spread out all of the cookies that were brought and all the cookies that were decorated and everyone wanders around the tables selecting cookies to fill their own tins to take home and enjoy throughout the Christmas season. We all leave with dozens and dozens and dozens of delicious, homemade cookies.

It is an event that would make a nutritionist have a panic attack. The healthy, anti-sugar part of me always feels a little uncomfortable with the idea of the day, but it is such a fun tradition that we have had for so many years that I just can’t imagine Christmas without it. I don’t even like sweets and I love our cookie party (and eating all the cookies for weeks after).

You may not have a family cookie party, but I am almost certain that feasting and sweets and indulgences will be a big part of nearly all the events you attend in the next few weeks. The holidays are a time for food. And I don’t see anything wrong with that. Food is meant to be enjoyed. We are supposed to celebrate at various times in our lives. I don’t think we should feel guilty about celebrating and indulging in all (or at least mostly all) that the holidays have to offer.

However, I don’t think that the holidays are an excuse to gain 20 pounds or completely derail all of the healthy choices that you are trying to implement into your life. Don’t start the New Year off feeling guilty about how much you overdid it during the holidays. That’s no fun.

I’ve come up with a few tips to keep in mind around the holidays to allow ourselves to indulge and partake in the edible holiday goodness without letting it completely wreck our physical health.

1. Remember that the holiday is only one day.

Christmas is technically one day, not an entire four week season. Yes, there are likely events that you will attend sprinkled throughout the four-week season, but every meal of every day during the four weeks is not a holiday meal. When you are at a holiday party or event, enjoy yourself. Eat the food, drink the drinks, and mingle with all the people. Parties are meant for celebration and feasting. Let go of the guilt and have a good time. You will not gain 10 pounds from one party.

However, on all of the other days and for all of the other meals during this four-week season, eat like a healthy person. Make sure that your non-celebration foods are the healthiest you can select to make sure your body is getting the nutrition it needs. Don’t overeat and overindulge just because it’s a Monday, save that for all of the holiday events you will be attending.

2. Drink extra water.

Carry your water bottle everywhere and constantly be sipping. Your body needs the extra fluids this time of year, so be sure to provide. Don’t fill up on sodas and juices on normal days, choose water instead to limit your excess calories and provide your body with proper hydration.

The extra fluids are necessary around the holidays to combat added stress, dryer winter air, and to flush out and rehydrate after a night of eating, drinking, and indulgence. Water is one of the most important things you can consume to lose weight, so it’s also important when trying to avoid gaining weight.

3. Crowd out the unhealthy choices with good ones.

Know that you will be eating a lot of extra calories and recognize that most of those calories are going to be fairly empty calories (empty calories are those with little to no nutritional value – think cookies). You want to make sure that the foods you eat outside of your holiday parties and events are the healthiest possible options. This will not only fill you up to make you less likely to overindulge during the party, but it will also provide your body with the nutrition it needs and won’t be getting from a night of wine and appetizers.

For example, you could start your day with a super green smoothie to make sure you get at least a few servings of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Before you head to the cookie party, eat a big healthy salad. Don’t skip meals on party days, but instead, choose foods that will best fuel your body for the night of partying ahead of you.

4. Make exercise a part of your traditions.

Maybe you could take a walk around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights with your kids instead of driving. When the snow begins to fall, put on your layers and head outside with the kids to play in it. Before your holiday meal, head outside for a family hike or to go caroling. Think of fun ways you can incorporate activity into your family holiday traditions to combat some of the indulgences you’ll be partaking in later.

5. Practice moderation.

You don’t have to eat the entire plate of cookies. You don’t have to make a mountain of food on your plate and go back for seconds. Maybe you don’t need to eat a piece of all the pies. Give yourself permission to enjoy the foods offered this holiday season, but recognize that you don’t have to partake in all or everything. Choose your favorites, select reasonable portions, limit your alcohol intake, and truly take the time to enjoy your family and the season.

The holidays are truly one of my favorite times of the year. I don’t ever believe in depriving ourselves of things we love. Stop feeling guilty about the holidays and enjoy them. You don’t have to overindulge in them, but give yourself permission to taste and smell and indulge in your favorites. The holidays are meant for feasting and celebrating. Enjoy it.

Today’s action step to achieve a healthy holiday:

What is one commitment you will make to yourself regarding your health around the holidays? This can be a commitment to allow yourself to enjoy your favorite treat guilt free or a commitment not to overindulge in that particular food weakness or anything else that is important to you. Let us know in the comments what you are committing to.

Additional Resources:

You don’t have to wait until January to start exercising, start fitting it in now.

I don’t think weight loss should ever be your goal, even in January.

More on my thoughts about crowding out unhealthy food with good choices.

Do you still have some holiday shopping to do? Here are some tips to get things going.

Do the holidays have you stressing out? Here are some tips to find more peace.

Holiday Season Cookbooks to Check Out:

Click on the image to check out the cookbook on Amazon (affiliate links)

Cheers to you for a healthy holiday season!

How to respond when life doesn’t go as planned

December 23, 2015 | 7 Comments

Sometimes life doesn’t quite go the way we planned. This past weekend was my husband’s college graduation ceremony. We have been leading up to this day for four painfully long years. These past few weeks have felt like an eternity as he finished up his classes and we prepared for the big day.

Being an adult student is a completely different ball game than being a traditional 18 year old college student without a care in the world. Over the past 4 years my husband has kept up his full time 50-60 hour a week job, I’ve worked full time, our family has grown to include two small children, and we have the usual adult responsibilities of home maintenance, car repairs, and various other obligations. When you add in a full time college course schedule, life can feel a little bit like drowning at times. But we made it through! And he graduated magna cum laude (with high honors). We certainly have lots of reason to celebrate.

The graduation ceremony was scheduled to take place early on Saturday morning, over two hours from our home. My husband had to arrive two hours before we did, so I booked us a hotel room nearby to make life a bit easier. I got an extra room for my mom to give me a couple extra hands to get the kids ready in the morning. We prepped an activity bag and a snack bag for each kid to keep them occupied and happy during the ceremony. It felt like we had planned for everything and I expected the day would be filled with joy and excitement and celebration.

While at the hotel, my son tossed and turned for much of the night and took hours to fall asleep. I assumed it was due to excitement over everything going on and being away from home. Somewhere in the middle of the night though, I noticed he felt warm and I could hear him burping. Then he said his mouth hurt and felt funny (he’s 3, so his descriptions are a little difficult to decipher). I started getting very nervous and said a few urgent prayers as we fell back to sleep.

In the morning, we all popped out of bed, excited for our day, except the little one. He just rolled around in bed and refused to get up. I tried to take him down to the lobby for breakfast but he just cried and said “no”.

My husband had just gotten out of the shower when suddenly my son got sick all over the hotel room bed.

This was not how this day was supposed to go. After four long, hard years I just wanted this day to be a huge celebration. There was to be nothing but happiness and joy as we cheered my husband across the stage. The only tears that should be shed were to be joyous tears and tears of relief that we were done! But instead, I had a sick 3 year old, shivering, crying, and puking all over our hotel room.

I sent my husband to go prepare for his big day while my mom helped me clean up my son and get us all ready. We made it to the ceremony just as the procession was starting and quickly found our seats. I was beyond stressed, scared that my little boy would get sick again in the middle of the ceremony and ruin the day for everyone. I was worried that I would miss my husband’s walk across the stage. I was nervous about our long drive home with a sick kid. I was angry because this was not in my plans for this momentous day.

As I sat and listened to the opening speeches I remembered that stress is what happens when our minds resist what is. When we try to fight with reality and wish and hope and dream for different circumstances, we are only met with disappointment, anxiety, and stress. Nothing good can happen by clinging to what might have been.

My only hope for surviving and enjoying the day was to let go of my expectations, to release my worries and fears with the knowledge that worry and fear can’t actually fix anything, and simply be. I needed to take the morning that life gave me and enjoy it to the best of my abilities.

I settled into the ceremony. I snuggled my sick baby and let him fall asleep on my chest. I enjoyed the excitement of the day and remembered that no matter how things turned out, we still have much to celebrate. As the graduates moved their tassels across their graduation caps, signifying the end of a long journey, tears filled my eyes. This has been a long journey for us, but thankfully, there is still so much more to come.

My boy slept through most of the ceremony and the drive home. He was miserable and exhausted, but we were soon settled back at home where he could rest and recover in peace. We didn’t miss the ceremony. We didn’t miss the joy. And even though it felt all wrong, it still ended just right. We were together, celebrating this accomplishment as a family.

This week, you may have high expectations for how Christmas should turn out. You dream of the excitement on your children’s faces as they open their gifts. You’ve imagined the peace and beauty as you read the Christmas story. You can’t wait for a joyous meal shared with the ones you love the most.

And it might happen exactly as you plan. You may have the perfect Christmas of your dreams. But, if life has anything to do with it, Christmas might not be quite as perfect as you hope.

People may start fighting, someone might get sick, the turkey may burn and the pie might be soupy. Gifts may not cause the excitement you anticipated. And you might not even get a chance to read the Christmas story.

When all of the holiday stress and disappointment threatens to steal your joy, I challenge you to remember that stress is what happens when we resist what is. What is, may not be what you want or what you expected, but it still can be beautiful. It still can be filled with joy and love and peace. Choose that. Choose to recognize that even when life unexpectedly takes a different path, we can still accept what is, and experience moments that take our breath away.

Because Christmas isn’t about perfection. It isn’t about all of our dreams coming true. Christmas is about a perfect God coming into our imperfect world to be with us. He came to experience life with us, the good, the bad, and the mess. He never promised us perfect, He never said He’d meet all of our expectations and fulfill all our dreams. He just said He’d be here with us, through all of it. And that is all we need.

Merry Christmas. May the love of our living Savior fill your heart, your home, and your lives this Christmas. May you recognize the beauty of His perfect gift in the midst of your imperfect Christmas. May you choose to savor His love, experience His joy, and rest in His peace.

Plan and Prepare to Make Room for Less Holiday Stress

Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

1. Pull out your coziest blankets.

2. Stay hydrated with teas, cocoa, and cider.

3. Turn on the Christmas tunes.

4. Diffuse holiday scents.

5. Read good books.

6. Schedule time off work, if possible.

7. Go outside and get some fresh air.

8. Exercise.

9. Schedule time at home.

10. Laugh.

11. Drop the phone.

12. Consider volunteering another time.

13. Be present.

14. Stay positive.

15. Don’t be a victim.

16. Create a family bucket list.

17. Be grateful.

To Summarize

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Experience Gift Ideas for PreSchoolers

Shows/Plays

Movie Tickets

Season Pass for the Zoo or Kid’s Museum

Subscription Box

Magazine Subscription

Games for Family Game Night

Vacation

Experience Gift Ideas for Elementary Kids

Play or Musical Tickets

Movie Tickets

Lessons

Museum, Amusement Park, or Zoo Membership

Craft or Science Bucket, Supplies, or Kits

Journal

Subscription Box

Vacation

Games for Family Game Night

Experience Gifts for Tweens and Teens

Tickets/Passes for Local Activities

Tickets to a Play/Musical/Concert

Tickets to a Sporting Event

Movie Tickets

Subscription Boxes

Vacation

Games for Family Game Night

Give the Gift of a Great Experience

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Today’s Action Step:

Additional Resources:

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1. Remember that the holiday is only one day.

2. Drink extra water.

3. Crowd out the unhealthy choices with good ones.

4. Make exercise a part of your traditions.

5. Practice moderation.

Today’s action step to achieve a healthy holiday:

Additional Resources:

Holiday Season Cookbooks to Check Out:

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