Slow Living During the Holidays: Preparing (Part 1)

Nov

Slow Living During the Holidays: Preparing (Part 1)

We are officially in the season marked with hustle and bustle. Even though holidays happen all year round and there are plenty of things to celebrate and look forward to at various times of the year, for some reason, American culture and much of Western culture has dubbed this time of year the “holiday season”. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a scathing social commentary on capitalism. This isn’t even a condemnation of the holiday season. I love a holiday just as much as the next person! And, just like so many other things in the world, I think it is important to have a space to discuss the impact such a busy and expectation-filled couple of months has on highly sensitive introverts. Don’t you?

The Holidays Aren’t Bad…Even For Introverts

We can love all of the decorations, the food, the festivities, the lights, the sounds, the smells…you name it, we can love it all. That said, it can be a lot for highly sensitive introverted women in a very concentrated amount of time. In fact, I was just talking about this in my Halloween Haunted House post last month. Remember how crowded those spaces are? The time-limited nature of those attractions makes them even more crowded.

Mixing it up this month…

This month, I’m going to do something a little different from what you might be used to. We’re going to talk about preparing for and recharging from the holidays. This busy season. Then, I’m going to take a break from blogging. *gasp* “But, Enid! You can’t take a break! You’ll lose momentum! You’ll lose credibility with Google! How will people know you’re serious about this business? How will people know they can still contact you for coaching and support?” *hint hint*

Taking a Break Isn’t Bad, Either

Isn’t that the point? Isn’t that the point of everything I’ve been writing about for over a year now? We’re told that we must constantly be on. Constantly creating. Constantly be producing. That this is the only way we can succeed in our fast-paced world. Especially when you’re an entrepreneur. When you are a woman in business. When you’re self-employed. If you don’t stick to a social media schedule, you’ve fallen off of the algorithm. If you aren’t constantly creating new and compelling content, you are suddenly irrelevant. I know. I’ve heard the message. I’ve had the coaching. I get it. And, if that is how I lived my life, I would be completely burnt out. Crispy. And, I wouldn’t be honoring my sensitive, introverted nature. Just like I tell you to. Over and over again.

Don’t Worry, I’ll be Back!

So, yes, my dear. I am taking a break from blogging after this month. I hope you will forgive me. Except that I’m not apologizing. And, that you can find some way to still hear my voice (click here for my free audio training for highly sensitive introvert women). Still read my words (did I mention I have a whole YEAR of blog posts available, specially crafted for HSP women?) both here and as recently featured in Introvert, Dear. I would also love to hear about what you would like to hear from me next year! Please share ideas in the comments or connect with me to provide suggestions. For now, let’s talk about some of my best tips for preparing for the holidays as a highly sensitive, introverted woman.

Slow Living Introvert Survival Kit: Holiday Prep Tips from an HSP Coach for Women

K.I.S.S: Keep It Simple, Sweetie.

Yes, I know there is a ton of pressure to make everything from scratch and have an immaculate home and have everyone scheduled to the minute to make sure no one gets bored. But, is that really necessary? What would it be like to slow down? To take a breath. How would it feel to not have every activity planned out? To go with the flow a little, and embrace the downtime?

I realize some of your more extroverted family members may not be okay with this. But, I’m not writing to them, am I? If they want to have a more planned-out schedule, they can, but they don’t have to include you in it. Make family or together time super intentional and special. Prioritize the most important things to do or see, and carve out chunks of time for that. Perhaps, you could even order food instead of making every single thing? Or, do it all potluck style so everyone is responsible for one or two things? This is especially helpful if folks have different food preferences or needs. Feeling the need to make an array of holiday cookies or baked goods? Arrange a SIMPLE cookie swap with some friends. Not a cookie party where you all bake together, but a swap where you can bake a few dozen of ONE item in the privacy and peace of your own place and then swap portions with your people so everyone gets a variety! Slower living doesn’t have to mean

Build-In Break Times

Maybe you’ve got a huge group getting together, or they are going to be around for a long time…instead of scheduling activities, schedule breaks. You already know activities are going to happen. Meal times might be set as well so everyone can be together, but then the only other “set” things are breaks. It might seem backward, but consider how things could feel more balanced if you simply said, “between 1-3 pm, we’re not going to schedule anything. No expectations of anyone to be anywhere or available.” Would that be the end of the world? Probably not. Would it be a huge relief to know you were going to get a break in the middle of the day to recharge and get the quiet time you need? Absolutely. Figure out what works best for you, and name it. Be clear. As you know, clear is kind!

Prioritize Your People-ing

I know. You’ve already been invited to a dozen different events. Plus, the concerts and activities you feel obligated to attend. Then, there are traditions and attractions you want to do or feel compelled to complete again. The reality is, we can’t do everything every year. It’s simply not possible. And, if we managed to force it and push ourselves to do all the things, we would resent it. Our bodies would revolt and get sick. Or, we would get headaches or overwhelming anxiety. This is not because sensitive, introverted women want to be reclusive, it’s because the fast-paced world we live in is not built for us! Do I need to say it again? I will…because it’s that important.

So, choose the things that are most important to you and do only those. It’s easy for people to say “I have just as many hours in the day as Beyoncé!” as a reason to push themselves (and others) to do more, but I want you to challenge that inner (or external) voice to consider what you truly need. It’s a matter of priorities. And, YOU are a priority too, my dear. Prioritize the rest you need so that you can be present and genuinely enjoy the things you choose to take part in this holiday season.