Planning Yields Peace

Many of us have fought the inner turmoil that life’s chaos dishes out.  This year, during the busiest whirlwind bustle, take a deep breath, grab your cup of joe and take in a few tips that will help you stay grounded in the eye of the holiday storm and actually enjoy the “peace on earth” we are striving to celebrate.

Write It Down

For many of us the holiday season rushes upon us like a heavy contraction and is gone before we had a chance to swallow our second gulp of eggnog. It’s not too late to grab the reins and steer in the right direction. Start by writing down all your goals for this season (in pencil). Be it, chopping your own tree in some snow covered forest, or stringing popcorn and berries – expectations are rarely met if they haven’t been communicated. Chart out everything. Have your spouse write a list as well. Communicating expectations with your spouse can be one of the most exciting things about crossing the threshold into the fulfillment of a rich time. However, hold these things loosely – Over booking your calendar and overspending your budget are two of the most brutal robbers of peace in this season. So after the lists have been written, simplify.

Simplicity is Sweet to the Soul

There is something so satisfying about saying “no” and crossing things off my “to do” list that don’t really matter. Set priorities that speak of your values. Start asking “What do I want?” Are you dying to take your kids to the greatest sledding hill? Does hosting a meal make you want to cry in a corner? Spend time weeding out of your schedule the things that feel like mere obligations and, instead, add the ideas that genuinely excite you. Plan for 1 or 2 major events away from home ie; a holiday party, sleigh rides, Christmas shopping, theater tickets. Simplifying doesn’t just mean: “Take out the bad and insert the good”, it means shave down even the really great options into two or three choices. Leave breathing room in your schedule and in your wallet!

Plan to Relax

Afternoons and evenings that are planned evenings at home can be filled with “busy-less fun”; baking, building snowmen, crafting decorations, holiday movie marathons, etc…Don’t underestimate the power of marking these things on your calendar. Relaxation doesn’t just knock at our door, we must aggressively invite it into our lives. Find the things that make your soul come alive and make room for it in your life.

Let Your Budget Be the Boss

It’s so easy in the glitter and twinkle of decorated windows and the smell of gingerbread houses to dethrone our budget and give in to many of the marketing sentiments all around us. By carrying around an agenda and a bit of self-control you can save yourself the hang-over of overspending. Slip a note into your wallet, purse or pocket with your agenda clearly written on it. Peace is lying your head down on your pillow knowing your lot lines are secure. Living within your means is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family.

This season comes once a year and if we become skilled at lassoing this wild bull, then we will know peace on earth. Well, … at the very least, peace under our own roof.