I’ve been struggling for the past few days to figure out what to write for my December newsletter. At the end of a really terrible year, it just doesn’t seem appropriate to write about digital organizing or productivity issues. I was talking about this to one of my wonderful friends/clients, and she had a great idea.
“Tell everyone that you are giving yourself permission not to write anything.”
This year has been filled with stress, loss and sadness for everyone. Everyone I know has been affected in some way. And the holiday season just tends to add more stress, most of it self-imposed. This year, I choose to say “no” to self-imposed stress.
You can say no, as well. We as a society have never encountered a holiday season like the one we’re managing now. Take the pressure off yourself to try to make this year like past years. Elaborate decorations, gifts, large holiday gatherings, big holiday meals, they can all be skipped or pared down this year so that you can focus on taking care of yourself and your loved ones mentally and physically. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself to maintain the status quo. We’ll have all that holiday cheer (and its accompanying stress!) in the years to come.
I wish us all a safe and healthy holiday season. Celebrate the best you can, with or without family, virtually or in person. But don’t beat yourself up if it’s not everything it usually is. Give yourself permission not to do anything you don’t want to – you deserve it. And let’s all hope that 2021 brings better and brighter days.
