3 TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS, 2020 EDITION

3 tips for surviving the holidays in 2019

Halloween is almost here, which can mean one thing, only: Christmas is basically tomorrow. Somewhere in there is Thanksgiving (if people even do that anymore). And if you haven’t already made your 2020 New Year’s Resolution already, well what are you even doing with your life? 

If you are sensing a theme here on holidays in the 21st century, you are probably correct. Holidays are rushed, one stacked upon each other, and - oftentimes - over before you start them. Surviving the holidays in 2019 may be a little tougher than it was when life was simpler, and the most stress you had to deal with was the heartburn your Aunt Mable’s sweet potato casserole gave you, but it can be done. 

You may even enjoy yourself. 

1. Slow Down Your Pinterest Feed 

Be it your literal Pinterest feed, or the one inside your head - a pinboard of ideas for everything from homemade Halloween costumes, to DIY Christmas cupcakes is helpful to keep your holidays organized and contemporary. But utilizing this pinboard-style system of planning your holidays can get out of control, fast. Before you know it, you haven’t just planned way more than is feasible or even necessary, you’ve jumped past every holiday that is on your immediate radar, and started thinking about Valentine’s Day.

 Slow. It. Down. 

Stick with the holiday that is coming up next, only. Resist the temptation to go down the black hole of idea-gathering for every holiday coming up in the next several months, and set yourself time limits to research and come up with ideas. And if you are utilizing online sites, like Pinterest, you may even consider downloading an app to force time limits on you, so you aren’t tempted to spend too much time looking at cupcake and cookie recipes you likely won’t have the time to make anyway. 

2. Free Yourself From Keeping Up With the Insta-Joneses 

Every morning during the holiday season, look yourself in the mirror and say the following: 

“I do not have to do what everyone else is doing on Instagram, and half of it is probably made up anyway.”

 If you don’t use Instagram, the same applies to everyday life. Resist the urge to compare your holiday experience to that of others. This is often a difficult thing to do, in the age of social media. 

So your best friend from high school is going on an all-inclusive cruise this year with her entire family for Christmas, and you are sticking close to home. Remember that “the grass is always greener” is truer today than any other time in history, simply because so much of what we see online is easily fabricated, exaggerated, or straight-up fake. You don’t have to keep up with the Insta-Joneses this year. You just don’t. Make your plan, and stick to it knowing it’s the best plan for your family. 

3. Opt For Doing Stuff Over All The Stuff 

Earlier this year, the world was introduced to the ideas of Marie Kondo in her Netflix series, and everyone went decluttering-crazy. Her principle is simple: only keep the things that give you a feeling of joy. Thank the things that no longer do, and release them. Organize with the interest of being tidy. And for God’s sake: stop with all the stuff. 

This year, the best way to survive the holidays the 2019 way is to take a page from Kondo’s playbook: forgo the stuff. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… in recent years, they have all become about the things you get, over the fun you had. Prioritizing experiences and time together, over Halloween gift bags, hostess gifts, and miles of Christmas presents is a surefire way to minimize holiday stress and maximize the season with family and friends. 

No matter what your situation, the holidays should be a fun time. Halloween for the costumes and the trick or treating. Thanksgiving for the turkey and mountains of mashed potatoes. And Christmas for… well, everything about Christmas. It doesn’t have to be stressful, and navigating it by unplugging a little and setting your limits will keep you in the moment, so you can enjoy every minute of it.

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