Managing Expectations for the Holidays | Episode 224

With Christmas right around the corner, we decided it was the perfect time to sit down and have a chat about the expectations that can go hand-in-hand with the holiday season.

Whether you’re a new parent, an empty nester, or somewhere in between, we’re willing to bet you’re all too aware of holiday expectations. After all, they seem to come at us from every direction—from our family members, traditions we see in movies, and even social media.

When the holidays don’t go as planned, it can leave us feeling disappointed, unhappy, and disconnected from our loved ones. The truth is, nobody benefits from the burden of these expectations—so let’s let them go. This winter, rather than spending your time frantically rushing to and fro, consider with us how we can better manage our expectations around this busy season.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How a simple mindset adjustment can help you have a great holiday season
Our six strategies for managing expectations
Why you should survey your family about what they really want to do
And much more!

We hope this conversation helps you set realistic expectations and maximize your connection with your loved ones!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

My Key Takeaways:

1) Stop comparing real life to a scripted life. These little comparisons are the thieves of joy. Our lives will never be a Hallmark movie. However, they might be a little like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! Around the holidays, we can easily slip into the trap of comparing our lives to what we see in movies and on social media. The problem is that these things aren’t real; they are scripted images. When we compare our lives to something that isn’t real, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

2) Take the time to re-evaluate your holiday traditions. There is no end to the Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas parties, and family get-togethers you could fill your calendar with. However, your primary responsibility is to do what is best for YOUR family. That might mean you only go to one Thanksgiving meal or stay home on Christmas morning to make a new tradition with just your immediate family. It’s true that your decision to say “yes” to some things and “no” to others may ruffle some feathers, but you can still honor and acknowledge the expectations other people have of you while doing what is best for your family.

3) Simplify the decorations. Do you begrudgingly hand-cut a tree? Or hang outdoor lights? Or deck every inch of the halls? We recognize that some people love decorating for the holidays, and there is nothing wrong with that if you do! But for those of us who think setting up decor each year feels more like a chore than a fun tradition, this is your permission to simplify your decor. You don’t have to hang garlands and a put up a tree and set up fancy lights and stockings. You have the freedom to decorate however your heart desires. And hey, if you only opt for a few things that are easy to put up and take down this year, we say more power to you.

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