How to Stay Motivated — Especially During the Holidays

It can be a time of beauty or a time of an albatross around your neck.

Morale is best described as ‘faith in the guy at the top’. Your overall outlook for the future rests with the leadership above you. What if you’re that person — at the top? Daunting? Overwhelming? Here’s how you can stay motivated — especially during the holidays.

‘Adulting’ is not for the faint of heart. Add parenting to that and life can be pretty scary. Sometimes even overwhelming.

You look back and ask yourself, “Did I sign on for all of this?!”

Well, yeah; and your sometimes feelings of despair are valid. You’re not alone in them.

This brings us to my first way to stay motivated.

ONE — Give yourself a break!

You are not Superman or Superwomen, although during the Holidays you may feel the need to become them.

You want to give your loved ones everything that you could never have as a child. Sound familiar?

There is only so much you can do. Intentions are great. Drive and passion are commendable. But in the end, you can only do what you can do.

Give yourself a break. Accept what you can do and quit pursuing the impossible. Frustration is a big motivation killer.

TWO — Stop comparing yourself to some Hollywood Christmas movie.

It’s so easy to become caught up in all the decorations, the smiling faces, the cider, and the eggnog. If you’re a ‘creative’ and you see a cool decoration you start thinking of ways to imitate it, or even do better.

Pull out — it’s a trap! That holiday setting you’re seeing may fall apart or burst into flames as soon as filming is over. It’s fantasy. It’s make-believe. Your life, however, is real.

Be in the moment, not living in fantasy and illusion. It’s your life, live the real thing.

THREE — It’s still OK to say NO.

But the kids expect this . . the in-laws expect that . . I’ve always done it this way! That last one is a true doozie, isn’t it?!

Growing up we were told to be on our best behavior or we won’t get the presents we want. And now we’re trying to be the best during our holiday preparations and efforts.

Only now, as an adult, and the person that has to ‘deliver’ Christmas, we want to pull out all the stops and go full bore into the production.

I know it’s hard, especially during the holiday season, but you still have to be able to say no. “I would like” is not the same as “We’re demanding that of you.” “That’s a great idea” is not the same as “All the other neighbors have it!”

Don’t hear it as such. Don’t pressurize it and sideswipe yourself with it. Be brave and remember how to say no.

What’s changed?

I’ve met a few folks over the years, usually later middle-aged that have a very calm approach to Christmas.

The presents were bought throughout the year. On a specific weekend, an older child will help put up the outside decorations. Sometime before the big morning the family has a wrapping party — with popcorn and pizza and lots of laughter.

The rest of the season is the same as any other day, week, and month. There are no “OMG — I forgot to get a . . !“. You fill in the screaming item.

Where does it say “It’s the Holidays, your entire life has to change!?” On the television? In-store advertisements? Don’t buy into it (no pun intended).

It’s your life. The same life you had last summer. The same life you had last winter. The anxiety you feel, and the resulting frustration about not doing enough is a product of advertisers and show-offs. Don’t fall for it.

When the ads just don’t add up.

Look at all the ads as suggestions, or offerings. They are not road maps or instructions on how to raise and care for your loved ones.

They don’t send out ‘advertisement police’ to your house to see if you’ve lived up to their perfect Christmas. Or if you blindly bought their stuff or mimicked their decorations.

You have a great thing going — called life. There are things that you still want to do and experiences you still want to have. Focus on those. Focus on the big picture, the brass ring.

The holidays as just another segment in time on the timeline of life. It can be a beautiful time or a time of an albatross around your neck.

Be yourself. Stay motivated. Do ‘you’. That’s all you can do. You’re the best ‘you’ that you have.