Life Resource Center

For many Americans the winter holidays bring more stress than good cheer.  We spend so much time checking off "to do” lists, and running around town, we often wind up too exhausted to enjoy our cherished traditions and intimate family gatherings.  It doesn’t have to be this way.  Many people with a little effort and reflections have succeeded in creating a different type of holiday, one that is more spiritual, more thankful and more personally meaningful.

Since most of the responsibilities of making the Holidays come together rests on the shoulders of the women in the family, its a good idea for her to take a little time and make out the Holiday job list.  After doing so, ask yourself these questions regarding each item on the list:

• Do I like doing it?
• Would Christmas or Hanukkah be the same without it?
• Who is responsible for seeing that it gets done?
• Is it a one person job, or can it be shared?
• Do you do it out of habit, tradition, free choice or obligation?
• Is this something you want to do differently? (Doing more of the same will bring the same results.

Subsequently, it is a good idea to sit down with your household members.  Ask them to discuss the way the family celebrates the Holidays.  Ask: what do you dislike? What would you like to eliminate? What do you love?

Eliminate what is possible.  Select a few favorites, if there are several, agree to rotate them yearly.  Finding more modest ways to celebrate, means we are less likely to release tension by overeating, and, or, rampant spending.  Also it allows for expressing important values, deepening relationships, and providing a sense of meaning across the generations.