The holidays are a wonderful time of the year. Family, friends, food, fun, and faith are some of the common threads that bring people together and encourage celebration.
However, for many people, this time of the year brings feelings of stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. As beautiful as these times are, often, things get in the way that cause one to wish the holidays would end quickly.
If you find yourself not enjoying this time as much as you would like, here are 12 things to remember:
1. Love and giving are not just for the holidays, but for every day of the year. Practice sharing and loving each day and when the holidays come around, it will be a part of your nature.
2. Be intentional about enjoying the holidays. By making a choice to be happy and enjoy, you will actually find yourself in that sweet spot of positivity and cheer.
3. Be in the moment. It’s not enough just to feel good, but be aware of this feeling and savor any moments of well-being that you encounter.
4. Be grateful and show it. Life tends to stop at many points and in different places, and it’s up to us to be appreciative of each experience. Thankfulness always connects us to something greater.
5. Kindness is a gift we wrap by our spirits. Nothing can stop us from being kind and expressing kindness even to difficult people. Kindness is a wonderful gift that we can keep giving beyond the holidays.
6. Leave your smartphone behind. We are the most connected generation ever. Research shows that Americans check their phones over 8 billion times a day. During this time, don’t take your smartphone out or check it. Take time to talk to and laugh with people face-to-face.
7. Be present and enjoy the presence of others. We spend much time buying gifts and sending cards, but one of the best gifts we can give is to be present in the lives of those we love.
8. Take a break and breathe. If you begin to feel stressed or overwhelmed, take a break, grab a cup of coffee, take a walk, or read a book. Get out of the doing mode and just relax.
9. Be happy. Happiness is contagious — it rubs off on other people. If you are happy and express happiness, more than likely, the people around you will be happy too.
10. Practice generosity. Giving and sharing, even in the simplest ways, expand feelings of cheer and goodwill within. When you do something for someone without expecting anything in return, let yourself feel the joy of generosity.
11. Learn to have fun. For many people, when they were kids, they played and had fun. Rediscover what it means to play and have fun, to take delight in going to the movies, playing video games, doing cartwheels, or whatever you like to do. Play and fun are gifts in life that offer great rewards.
12. Be yourself and let others be themselves. The worst thing you can do is pretend to be someone you’re not and attempt to change others around you into something they are not. Set boundaries and respect the boundaries of others. Remember, all people, whether they admit it or not, are works in progress.
Holidays were created to be fun and enjoyable. Yours can be too. Embrace these times of wonder and delight, and if need be, let it embrace you as well. Allow yourself to benefit from peace, goodwill, and cheer.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.