The “Four C” Approach To A More Joyful Holiday Season

If you’re like most, the holidays can be a blur and we don’t make the best choices with our time. We leave the season feeling frustrated and less than fulfilled. But what if this year, you could transform that chaos into a season of joy and connection? I have a 4-C approach to help you make your holidays more meaningful and memorable. It involves: Calories, Conversations, Commitment and Chill.

Calories

Let’s agree, we tend to eat too much over the holiday season. To help you prevent that, create plans before you go to these events that are positive in nature. Instead of saying, “Oh I don’t want to eat too much”, which is negative, say “I want to leave this event feeling satisfied. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and not feel like I have to go three hours on the treadmill.”

Also look for more opportunities to get in some physical exercise during the holidays. That doesn’t mean opening a gym membership, but how can you walk a little bit more, get a little bit more exercise outside? Will you be someplace cold for the holidays? Why not break out the skates or the sled? Someplace warm? Park the car extra far away. Work in extra “somethings” to counterbalance all those extra calories you’re consuming.

Conversations

We all have those people we look forward to seeing at work parties and in our family, but we also have that uncle or we have that person, or that colleague at work who we’re not excited about talking to. If you’ve got those people, then start your conversations with them from gratitude. For example, when they ask, “How are ya?”, your response could be something like, “Right now I’m grateful for…” It’s hard for someone to go completely negative if you’re already starting the conversation with gratitude.

Be a good listener and use phrases like, “Tell me more” and “Help me understand” or, “I’m curious.”  This is to help keep them talking, keeping the focus on them if you don’t want to talk about yourself.

Also remember, when someone is saying something to you and you’re shocked or you just don’t know what to say, look at them intensely and say, “Interesting.” (Try it and let me know what happens.)

Commitment

The holiday season offers so many obligations, expectations and opportunities that we spread ourselves too thin. Before that happens, take some time to review your values. Even write out some things like, “If I value _____, then I should_______.” In other words, what are the activities that align with your values?

The second thing to do is let your “No” be followed with a “Yes”.

When someone asks you to participate in something, or come to an event or an activity, start with what you’re trying to do for the holidays. A response to someone might be, “You know, I’m really trying to simplify the holidays. Time with my family is especially precious right now because my parents are getting older,” or my children are young or whatever you need say, and then “…so I’m going to have to say no.” 

BUT, then you offer them an alternative. Break out your phone and start looking at dates, or at least put a reminder on your phone in front of that person. This sends the message, “Yes, you are important. I just don’t want to overpack my holiday season.”

The other thing about commitments is to simply ask yourself, “What are the commitments that will bring me the most joy this holiday season?” It’s that thinking of yourself (even just a little) that leads to the 4th C.

Chill

The holiday season can sometimes feel like a high-speed roller coaster of stress! Between the gift shopping, meal prep, and travel chaos, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To truly soak up the holiday spirit, make it a mission to chill! Set aside some “me time” for activities that you personally enjoy—whether that’s binge-watching your favorite holiday movies or creating the perfect eggnog recipe. Taking some time for yourself can help flip the script from stress and obligation to joy and fulfillment.

And, if you feel like you need an encouraging voice to give yourself that push to take a little time for yourself, imagine me with my southern accent whispering to you, “Yes, it’s okay to take a little ‘me-time’ during the holidays.”  

The Wrap-Up

The essence of the season is all about connection and celebration—take a breather and enjoy what really matters! By embracing this 4-C approach—Calories, Conversations, Commitment and Chill, you’ll find more moments of joy in an otherwise hurried holiday season.

You may even look forward to doing it all again next year!