Happy and Healthy U: Reducing the Stress of Gift Giving

-
Happier Holiday Gift Giving

Your Presence is a Present

Many of us become stressed during the holidays due to the expectations and expense associated with buying and giving gifts.  If you wish to reduce the commercial emphasis of the holidays and provide more meaningful and memorable gifts, consider ways you can give of yourself.  Be sure that what you offer is something that is desired by and useful to the recipient.  Also, be clear about the time frame during which you will fulfill you gift offer and make sure it will be mutually convenient for the recipient and yourself.


Gifts of Your  Time
·         Volunteer with a cause important to you or to someone special 
            to you

·         Help someone with a task (home improvement, painting, 
           organizing, packing for a move, etc.)         

·         Give someone a break; Do a chore; Run an errand

·         Spend time doing something fun or special with someone

·         Host a gathering (i.e. game night, movie night, etc.)

·         Visit a sick or shut-in person

·         Write someone a letter/note; Express appreciation

 Gifts of Your Talents
·         Cook a meal; Make a special dish; Bake something sweet

·         Babysit for someone to give them some free time

·         Teach someone a skill

·         Use your creative talents (take photos, sew, entertain, do art
            or crafts, etc.) 


·         Share your expertise (resume assistance, computer repair
           research, budgeting or accounting help, etc.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taking Care of Me in 2023: Healthy Self-Love

-
  Elements and the Practice of  Healthy Self-Love As February comes to a close, let's reflect on the major theme, represented by Valentine's Day, that of love . Healthy love is a powerful force.  It provides us with motivation, joy, purpose, and energy.  It is important to remember that healthy love starts with our ability to love ourselves.     Healthy Self-Love Self-Acceptance and Being Authentic Like who you are Focus on and reinforce your strengths and positive qualities Embrace your individuality Self-Compassion Treat yourself well Forgive yourself for past mistakes Accept positive treatment from others Self-Esteem Recognize your value and honor it Honor the priority of your needs Assert your needs and wants Self-Awareness Be in touch with and in control of your emotions Set reasonable and Healthy Boundaries  Practice mindfulness  Positivity Recognize and celebrate your accomplishments Adopt an optimistic mindset Seek to enjoy life Pract...
Read more

Welcome 2023 With Gratitude from 2022

-
  THE BENEFIT OF GRATITUDE  Being Grateful for 2022 Helps Usher in 2023 As 2022 comes to a close, it it helpful to reflect on how we were successful in getting through the year. It is important to note that using a positive lens through which to evaluate what has transpired and where we have landed does not require us to ignore the painful or challenging experiences.  It is healthy to acknowledge problems and negative situations.  However, it is unhealthy to give those events and situations all of the power.  That is what happens when we narrow our lens and focus only or primarily on the pain of hurtful events. A healthy attitude enables us to desire to be whole, feel well and move on. Psychological researchers have found that the practice of gratitude is helpful in switching our perspective from one of problem to solution and building the resilience to overcome the negative impact of hurtful events.  Specifically, the attitude of gratitude is the ability t...
Read more

Taking Care of Me in 2023: Healthy and Intentional Self-Care

-
  "Taking Care of Me in 2023" An Overview of the S.P.I.E.S. Self-Care Model Self-Care is the healthy exercise of your responsibility and your right to aim for wellbeing.  It starts with our attitude.  That which we can Conceive, Believe and Achieve contributes toward our feeling and being well.  This is a conscious and intentional practice. My mindfulness approach: Acknowledge; Assess and Address enables you to work through and manage your emotions.  This intentional process enables you to feel in control and resolve distress.  Practicing deliberate self-care in a comprehensive manner promotes total wellness.  My model, S.P.I.E.S. provides a framework that can be applied to guide you through self-care assessment and practices across five dimensions:  Spiritual: Your sense of purpose, mission, values, and meaning that guide you and promote fulfillment Physical: Your health, physical characteristics, physical abilities and talents; Intellectual: You...
Read more