A Reminder: You Don’t Have To Do It All This Holiday Season

What if I told you, you don’t have to do it all this holiday season?

Depending on the type of person you are, you might nod in agreement or roll your eyes. Either way, the majority of you will say, “Yeah, BUT…”

But it is the holidays.

But I need to make it magical.

But it is tradition.

Here’s the thing: You do not need to maintain traditions that no longer bring you joy. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed for months, it is time to let go of that stress. Do less. In doing so, you may actually recapture the joy of the season.

My family and I have never been ones to try to do all the things. I have always cherished my downtime. Still, for many years we felt like there were some things we had to do simply because they were traditions. We would try to squeeze it all in, feeling rushed and harried, snapping pictures with forced smiles as proof we were doing it all. But we weren’t enjoying it. It wasn’t fun. It didn’t make me merry. I wasn’t feeling festive, I was frazzled.

The things that should have been fun had been sucked dry; all that was left was stress.


Elizabeth Joyce
Elizabeth Joycehttp://about.me/WriterElizabethJoyce
Elizabeth Joyce is an essayist, poet, and author. Her new book, tumbling: poetic thoughts from an anxious mind, is available now! In her eclectic collection of online and print works, Elizabeth shares her truths as a cancer survivor, mom via IVF/FET & gestational surrogacy, anxiety struggler, family historian, budget traveler, and simple, ordinary life enthusiast. She lives in Illinois with her husband, son, and twin daughters. Find out more at about.me/WriterElizabethJoyce and follow her on social media: @WriterElizabethJoyce. 

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