Back to planning for the holidays!
We’ve been working on creating intentions for the holiday season.
I hope you see how when we do the internal work first, the external work is much easier.
This is how we work smarter, not harder.
How we feel more in control of our experience rather than feeling like it’s happening to us and how we create energy rather than feel drained and exhausted.
As I’ve been doing the internal work alongside you, I’ve realized I want to experience more fun this holiday season.
This has been a hard one for me over the years.
I tend to be very functional and a little too practical.
So, when I plan for the holidays, my thoughts instantly go to, there’s so much to do.
With so many decisions and lists to make, plus shopping, cooking, events, and decorating, all on top of an already packed schedule, it can feel overwhelming and not at all fun.
But I want this year to be different.
This year, I’m deciding to have plenty of time, energy, and motivation to have fun.
I shouldn’t have to sell you on fun, but in our uber-productive society that highly values busyness, I know for some of us, it’s hard to remember to have a good time.
Let me encourage you by sharing some of the benefits of fun.
Fun reduces cortisol (stress hormone) and increases serotonin (happiness chemical), which helps us sleep better, gives us energy, and improves our immune system.
Fun encourages us to be more active and engaged.
Fun helps us to connect with others and build relationships.
Fun accesses our creativity.
Fun creates bonding and memories.
Fun helps us stay more youthful in body, mind, and spirit.
You might know someone you would describe as fun.
I treasure my “fun” friends.
They encourage and inspire me to live more abundantly.
But we can become the fun friend too.
Research has shown that fun is a skill we can develop and we develop it from the inside out.
We start with creating an intention and making a decision to have fun.
Fun starts with our thoughts.
There are a few common characteristics of a fun mindset, such as;
Not taking yourself too seriously,
Being willing to be spontaneous and silly,
Being willing to try new things, be bad at them, and laugh about it,
And being present, appreciating, and finding joy in daily life.
We must also beware of fun thieves.
What steals our fun?
Thoughts and beliefs such as:
I don’t have enough time, money, energy.
I have too much to do.
I’m too tired.
I don’t know what to do.
I don’t have anyone to do fun things with.
These are just thoughts.
And thoughts aren’t necessarily true.
Question them.
Are they helpful?
Are they getting you what you want out of life?
Instead, practice training your brain to have fun by asking, how can I make this activity more fun?
You could put on a funny TV show, listen to upbeat music or a podcast while folding laundry, or call a friend while cooking, cleaning, or running errands.
To make exercise more fun, invite a friend to work out or go for a walk together.
Practicing fun daily will train your brain to think of fun holiday ideas like;
Hosting a dinner party, game, or movie night with a fun theme.
Catch up with friends over brunch, lunch, or happy hour.
Volunteer or adopt a family for the holidays.
We did this one year, and my husband says it was one of his most fun Christmases.
Bundle up and go for a winter hike.
Being in nature has many positive effects on the mind, body, and spirit.
Send a card, gift, or invitation to someone who might be lonely or hurting this season.
Have a wrapping or writing card party, or put on music and have a glass of wine or hot chocolate in your favorite holiday mug.
Make shopping an event with others and include a leisurely lunch.
There are even ways to make online shopping an event.
Get creative!
And don’t forget to use Google to find holiday events in your area.
It’s typical to get so busy “doing” the holidays that we forget to plan fun.
I encourage you to stretch your brain and train it to create fun for the holiday season and your daily life.
I will practice stretching mine, but I would love your help.
Please hit reply and let me know what you do for fun during the holiday season.
The trick is to make decisions now so you can experience the joy of the season.
It goes by so fast.
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