Maintaining Joy During the Holiday Season
Posted on December 14, 2018 in Health and Wellness
Joy is a major tenant of the holiday season. For some people, particularly the elderly, maintaining that sense of wonder, comfort, and joy throughout the holiday season can be difficult. These tips will help restore your joy so you can enjoy a holiday filled with good cheer.
Stay Healthy
Physical health and wellbeing is one of four critical aspects of Masterpiece Living for successful living. During the holidays, it’s easy to get so caught up in the events of the season that you forget to take care of your physical health.
Therefore, remember to eat healthy balanced meals. Get an adequate amount of sleep. Reserve time for naps or resting during the day. Make sure to wash your hands as a first line of defense against germs in the air this time of year.
Share Traditions that Bring You Joy
Whether it’s humming holiday tunes, going caroling, decorating your home for the holidays, or baking your favorite holiday treats, it’s beneficial to share those traditions. Sometimes, though, it’s important to try new traditions to make others feel welcomed into the family or your circle of friends. The key is to focus on joy for yourself and for those you care about.
Live Within Your Budget
Financial health is very important for keeping your holiday joy. Look for ways to cut costs and still enjoy the things that are most meaningful to you. Consider attending holiday parades that are free to attend, church cantatas, and community plays that are lower costs. Set a budget for Christmas shopping and stick to it.
Look for ways to make inexpensive gifts for acquaintances so that the bulk of your holiday budget can be spent on close friends and family. Also, consider allowing someone else to do the bulk of holiday cooking or having various family members bring in dishes to aid in the expense of holiday meal prep.
Stop and Enjoy the Little Things
So many people rush from one holiday even to the next. They never have time to sit back and enjoy the season. Not only does this wear down the body and spirit, but it can also rob you of your own personal holiday joy. Prioritize the events you choose to attend according to the people involved and how important those events are to your holiday spirit. There are some things, after all, that Christmas just isn’t Christmas without attending. Make those a priority and let some of the other events fall to the wayside.
Devote Your Time, Wisdom, and Talents to Helping Others
Perhaps the most important thing of all that you can do to maintain your joy during the holidays is to set aside time to do good for others. Volunteer and make a difference for less fortunate community members or soldiers serving the country overseas. Doing for others helps to bring the joy back into your holiday by reminding you of your own blessings and can really make your holidays complete.
Ohio Living Breckenridge Village encourages involvement and offers a wide range of opportunities, including volunteering, faith traditions, and educational, social, and cultural pastimes, throughout the holiday season to help residents find joy for the holidays. We believe that purposeful programming and spiritual counseling are keys to successful living during the holidays and throughout the year.