avatarGabriela Trofin-Tatár

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My Holiday Handbook for Self-Care

Trying to manage clutter with grace this holiday season

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-santa-claus-costume-716658/

This morning, I woke up with the following thought: “I wish I had a trusted housekeeper to help me with all household chores.”

It made me wonder about how modern life is hectic and even cruel sometimes if we take to heart the multitude of to-dos.

But do we need to do it all?

This is why finding peace is crucial at this time of the year, or during any holiday season (Christmas, Easter, Diwali etc.).

We all understand that holidays make balancing everyday routines much more difficult.

This is why I share with you my thoughts on downsizing, decluttering, and ensuring self-kindness during the holidays. I hope they will help you find peace and joy, even if you have a house full of kids.

My take on the holiday chaos

Ask yourself this:

Does it need to feel like chaos?

Honestly, holidays usually take a toll on me because I was raised in a pristine house where everything had to be in order at all times. No specks of dust were welcome, and clothes were always neatly stacked. Which was nice and pleasant. I love a clean house! Who doesn’t?

When such triggers make me despair, I remind myself of what is important in life, especially during the Christmas Holiday.

Be together with the loved ones, accept and offer grace.

Try to simplify

I try to let go of material things that don’t bring joy. In our case: stacks of colored or scribbled paper, by my littles. (。>﹏<。) Yes, those papers are written on both sides, if you were wondering.

Legos always bring joy, even if they are everywhere. 🤷I guess only by playing and building together with our kids we can keep legos in some sort of compact order. We do have stacked boxes, organized by colours. 😉

Simplify the cooking: more salads and freshly made sandwiches with wholewheat bread. Quick stir-fried veggie meals with pieces of meat or tofu.

Donate clothes: we have too many clothes and occasionally I pack what we don’t use or like any longer and we donate them.

Recycle, recycle, recycle and if possible buy more wholesale instead of packaged foods. I feel overwhelmed with packaging of all kinds. (╯°□°)

Let go of control: by not trying to control every single detail of your life, you’re allowing yourself to surrender and make space for an upward shift in your life.

Photo by Madison Inouye: https://www.pexels.com/photo/self-care-isn-t-selfish-signage-2821823/

Be kind to yourself

Hardships of all types come and go.

House chores will always be there.

Legos will always appear out of nowhere. 🤣

People will always expect things from you.

Time will always seem scarce.

Ask yourself these:

  • What do you want for yourself?
  • Who takes care of you first?

The most important aspect of your life is to be at peace with your inner self and to accept who you are and who you want to become through personal growth.

Acceptance and kindness toward yourself will guide you towards a better understanding of the world around you and what is truly important.

You are the one to decide when you are ready to allow yourself space and more clarity.

And remember:

Love is at the center of all things.

Let’s be kinder to ourselves and others!

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!

Photo by Toni Cuenca: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-christmas-tree-688573/

Gabriela is studying to become a full-stack developer while being a mother of three small kids. This requires her to pay for some graduate programs and boot camps to gain experience. She is writing articles on Medium and Substack to inspire others and fund her journey.

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