This is Anne with your Coaching On The Go.

I’m often talking to you about business, productivity, or little things you are doing internally that are keeping you from your next level.

As we head towards another holiday, and in this case, Christmas is coming for me, I’m not sure which holidays you celebrate, but whatever they are, you can relate to this, I’m sure.

When I was growing up, I had certain traditions my parents did I absolutely loved, that made me feel like Christmas was magic.

They let me enjoy the magic of everyday life in more saturation at Christmas.

Magical.

As I got older, I wanted those same feelings and experiences for my children, but my life was different.

I had rules I created for myself.

I loved my grandpa, who was the baker, so much and wanted to be the best baker in the family.

So I had to make sure my cookies were all made with certain ingredients right before Christmas, so they were super fresh.

I also had to honor the tradition of putting up all the decorations on the 23rd of December, so Christmas was all of a sudden there.

I was working full time.

When I tried to do all these things, the first couple years I was exhausted, but pulled it off successfully and felt proud.

As time went along, it became more stressful and overwhelming.

Pretty soon I found myself getting sick after the holiday, not quite finishing several types of cookies because I had too much on my plate.

Years after that, I got sick before the holiday, before I started decorating or baking.

It was then I started to permit myself to start decorating a little earlier, still holding onto not baking until a day or two before Christmas to keep things fresh.

As I noticed I got sick every year and was stressed out, I began to think about how I could change things and gave myself permission to, which wasn’t easy.

Now, my partner and I, we both make parts of our meals ahead of time so we’re not doing everything the morning of the day we are entertaining in the evening.

I give myself permission also to strategically bake types of cookies that don’t get old for weeks ahead of time.

My holidays are relaxing now.

I enjoy the holiday.

I don’t get sick, or stressed, and I’m excited again like when I was a child.

I share with you to illustrate how difficult it was and how many years it took me to change my rules and expectations for the holidays so they suited me so I was happy and healthy.

Those family traditions are connected to us through loved ones and times we never want to forget.

Sometimes it is in these places where we can find a way to love ourselves more, give ourselves grace, and space to have it our way, a new way that works better.

If you have a non-negotiable, how can you make other things easier so it isn’t connected to 35 other non-negotiables you must do to be perfect for the holiday?

I hope that supports you.

I would love to hear about some of the family holiday traditions you have adapted and how you’ve adapted them.

Sending you love.