11 Sure-Fire Ways to Survive the Holiday Madness

Congratulations, you survived the first round of holiday madness—also known as Thanksgiving. So, how did you do? You didn’t get into it with you-know-who again this year, did you?

Bear in mind, this time of year is not for amateurs.

In America, it all begins with Thanksgiving. It’s one of the best holidays, right? You get to cook, eat, and sleep… then follow it up with dessert. How much better can it get? Well, you can top it all off with a full-contact Black Friday outing.

Safe to say, however, there are hazards involved… because Thanksgiving is just a warm-up for the real insanity that comes with the season.

What’s your go-to strategy for keeping your Merry Merry?

I’m thinking you might benefit from a few survival strategies to counter the holiday madness.

These are my best go-to strategies I always try to remember…

1. First things first. Get some rest, then stay rested.

This is the best strategy you can follow, period. Sure, you can grind through here and there. But, after a day or two, you’ll be in negative territory. It’s just the way our bodies and brains work.

You can’t cheat the equation. You may think you can, but that’s just because you’re still tired from round one.

2. After you’re all rested, commit to cutting yourself some slack.

Then… cut everyone else at least twice as much because they won’t be using these strategies. Instead, they’ll be following rules that are founded in some long worn-out tradition. Most of those no longer work.

No, I’m not Scrooging-out here. I love the holiday traditions and I look forward to them every year. Most of them, that is. The first strategy for a happy and fulfilling season is to recognize those that aren’t working and substitute something else that will.

3. On the flip side, keep your family traditions alive while you can.

They may not be possible someday. Then some well-meaning family member will try to force it. And that never works. Never.

4. Here’s the first non-negotiable… You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.

Give yourself permission to not get everything done—because you won’t. So, don’t beat yourself up. (By the way, this mindset helps year-round).

Keep in mind WHY you’re doing the holidays in the first place. Remind yourself WHY they’re important. It’s supposed to make you and yours feel happy, generous, and grateful.

5. Adjust accordingly.

It’s not a competition. It’s not a game. And it’s definitely not a race. So be flexible.

Stay focused on the good parts so you won’t be distracted by the grumps and occasional jerk. Nothing much can be done about them anyway.

6. Take a break. No, really take a break… lots of them!

Even if you can only find fifteen minutes. A walk around the neighborhood does wonders. Volunteer to be the one who runs to the store for more ice or another sixer if you need a break from the guests.

The same strategy applies to small groups… get them out of the house, even if it’s just some of them. Always remember… we need to get and keep our ya-yas out.

7. Make sure where you’re going is where you want to go.

There’s no law that says you must go home for the holidays… especially if you’re going to be miserable. If you can’t not go, then keep it short. It’s okay to minimize contact with someone… don’t try to fake it. Faking it doesn’t change anything and it burns a lot of mental fuel.

8. Set realistic expectations.

Practice your exit lines. Nothing like a good exit line when you’re stuck with freaky Uncle Hank by the punch bowl. Seriously, practice them. You’ll thank me later.

9. Chip in… whenever you spot the need.

You hear they’re low on OJ? The only answer is “I’ll go get some more OJ!”

It’s an opportunity for a priceless time-out. You get a break, and they’ll get a break from you, too (yep, you’re not always charming to be around either). Plus, it just feels good. It’s the season, right?

10. Keep an eye out for a friend who might be struggling.

Take some time to see people you haven’t seen in a while. Reach out to old friends.

Be there for someone who needs someone. Holidays can be wonderful, and holidays can be downright rough. For many, they amplify what’s wrong. It’s okay to ask if they’re okay. A good question is simply, “How are you doing today?”

Also, recognize that some folks wear their holidays on their sleeves. It’s everything to them. They want all the details to be perfect. Whether you take it to extremes or not, many do. It’s important to them. Keep your radar up, tread lightly and play along as much as you can.

11. Help keep the mood light.

Always remember, keep the spirit light. There’s fun to be had. Keep tabs on your sense of humor. Promote laughter and good cheer. Laugh whenever you can.

Look inward too, with the right perspective on the holidays you’ll be able to laugh at yourself, too, and temper all the holiday madness!

And remember, take lots of long winter naps.

You’ve got this!

Be untucked.

p.s. Oh! You know just about everyone could benefit from these tips, so be sure to share it with a friend. Use the Share Buttons at the top or the bottom of the post.