In my former career doing television graphics, there used to be what was called a KISS rule. This was an acronym for “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” I found this to be not only useful when creating graphics, but for everyday life as well. And as the holidays approach, it is even more relevant.
Simplicity. Easy to talk about, hard to come by these days. There are so many demands on our time and energy, especially this time of year. We may even find some of the demands pleasing,
like gatherings and celebrations. But like too many pretty logos on a graphic, overextending oneself to join in on all the social events that happen this time of year can just be busy and confusing. It can contribute to high levels of stress as well as increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. While I don’t recommend completely isolating yourself, I do recommend keeping the KISS rule in mind. It is perfectly okay to decline invitations, to limit yourself when making holiday commitments. Think ahead about how much you feel comfortable doing. Note that I used the word “comfortable,” not “what you can handle.” We tend to over-estimate what we can “handle,” and take on too much. It’s not about “handling” the holidays. It’s about happy holidays. Slow down enough to enjoy them. Mindfully. Simply.
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