Thanksgiving weekend has arrived at long last! Queue the smell of pumpkin pie wafting through the air, crunchy leaves crackling underfoot, the cheering of the football stadium, and time spent being thankful with loved ones. Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to take a moment to reflect on the year so far. It's a moment to take a deep breath and check in with yourself and your goals so that you can finish the year strong.
Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is not always a stress-free holiday. Spending so much time with people can be emotionally draining, it can feel like a long weekend of more work as you prepare to host others or travel, and through it all you can find yourself feeling distinctly not grateful for the season; and waiting for Tuesday when it will all be over. If this sounds like you, we have some tips to help you have the best Thanksgiving yet:
1). Decide today, before the rush of it all, what you can do, what you can't do, and what you want to do but is not essential to do. For example, does the thought of going to that third thanksgiving dinner party your coworker is hosting make you want to cry? Say NO. Tell them you need to prioritize your mental health and you would love to do dinner another time, but your weekend is going to be too busy. Perhaps you are going to go to three dinners, but you have also decided you will bring fresh homemade pie to each. Know your limits; store baked is fine. In general, take time to unload, not over load.
2). Set aside a moment just for you. This can be really difficult to do, especially if you put a lot of pressure on yourself to be busy, or if you have kids to take care of our guests coming to visit. Even if it is 30 minutes you dedicate to yourself; just to slip away along, play your favorite music and pick up a pumpkin spice latte, take it. You can't pour out to others if your cup isn't full, so do whatever you need to fill it. If you can, set aside a whole afternoon or morning just for you! Take a walk, go window shopping in Inglewood, read a book, watch Netflix, do whatever relaxes you.
3). Have a second helping. It's worth it, we promise.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by Ken Richter on
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