We are in full on holiday mode!  My birthday is in late November right before Thanksgiving, and I like to think it kicks off the holidays and ends with my husband’s birthday in January. This time of year is one of my favorites, but I always seem to have stressful times as well. And work this year seems extra busy with the uptick of conferences and events this fall—I’m writing this from a hotel room in between sessions and a reception. So, I’m finding myself determined to enjoy the holidays, but also really feeling pressed for time. Here is what is helping me—naming my non-negotiables. These are the things that are most sacred—the things that I will prioritize over anything else. 

At the top of this list is sleep. Yes, sleep. I never used to give it much notice, but lately it is the subject of many wellness podcasts and blogs—even has a swanky name:  sleep hygiene! Good sleep helps your body and mind repair, and bad sleep or lack of sleep causes a breakdown of both. I now prioritize 8 hours and will give up things (even important things) in the evening or morning to accomplish this. Next is simplifying the holidays, and that is mostly around the buying of gifts. We’ve shifted this year to giving experiences rather than stuff, which has opened up time not spent looking for and buying and wrapping stuff. And then it’s having a ritual of eating dinner with my husband at the table, where we can talk. Our kids are grown and out of the house, so it’s just my husband and me. I love our dinner conversations and I find it is also relaxing. 

None of this gets anything accomplished on my to do list. I still have emails, schedules, meetings—and some of that is not getting done right now. And that is OK. With a framework of non-negotiables to anchor my day I am finding space that I can fill with joyful activities. This could be journaling about gratitude, accepting an invitation for lunch or happy hour with an old or new friend, being outside and looking at Christmas lights, or watching Hallmark Christmas movies with hot cocoa. So figure out what anchors you, open up some time, and celebrate the season.

Sophie Curtis
2021-2022 President, MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter