The Christmas season can be a tricky time. Timeless songs, traditions, and movies all inspire a sense of wonder and joy that’s only felt this time of year. But they can also lead us to conjure up fantasies in our minds that we can never live up to. And if you’re not intentional about staying mindful during the holidays, you can wind up frazzled and overstressed.
In celebration of the Christmas season, I’ve chosen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as a case study for staying mindful during the holidays.
Four Ways For Staying Mindful During The Holidays:
Christmas Vacation is a classic comedy that follows the misfortunes of Clark W. Griswold as he strives to give his family the perfect Christmas. We love watching Clark’s slow descent into madness as one disaster transitions into another. We relate to Clark because we know we’ve tried to create that ideal Christmas. We’ve stressed out about selecting the perfect tree. We’ve risked our necks by climbing on rooftops to rig up lights. And we’ve slaved in our kitchens to prepare the perfect holiday meal. And somehow, it never quite measures up to that picture we created in our heads.
At its heart, Christmas Vacation shows how easy it is to lose sight of what really matters in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. So, before you let your Christmas get out of hand, take a moment to reflect on the following tips for staying mindful during the holidays.
Keep It Simple
While it can be tempting to go all out in every aspect of the Christmas season, be intentional about keeping things simple. Adjust your daily routines and habits to meet your creative goals while making time to enjoy the festivities.
Clark Griswold is an excellent example of what can happen when we overdo things. It’s not enough for him to have a simple Christmas tree. He wants the biggest and most majestic tree in existence. And he’s willing to go to any lengths to get it, even if it inconveniences his family.
Do your best to reign yourself in during the holidays. Simplify your schedule by organizing your tasks and planning ahead. Budget wisely by simplifying your shopping list to avoid overspending and unnecessary debt. Minimizing the need to overcomplicate things promotes a sense of contentment that can reduce or even eliminate unwanted holiday stress.
Set Realistic Expectations
If you set out to create the perfect Christmas, you’re already setting yourself up for disappointment. Reevaluating your priorities and setting more realistic expectations will help you be more content despite life’s inevitable imperfections.
Clark’s real problem is rooted in his obsession with perfection. It’s a flaw his wife Ellen is all too familiar with. She knows how bad things can get, but Clark is so infatuated with the idea of giving his family a “big family Christmas” that he’s unable to see the inevitable disasters that will result from his obsessive behaviors.
Setting unrealistic expectations will not only stress you out but will also put needless pressure on the ones around you. And when you stretch everyone too thin, things are bound to snap.
Take Time For Yourself
While fostering meaningful moments with family and friends is essential, taking time for yourself is also vital. Taking a few minutes for daily reflection or meditation can bolster your creativity and help improve your overall mood.
By the time the family arrives, Clark is already feeling stressed out. Instead of spending meaningful time with them, he opts to spend the rest of the day rigging up thousands of Christmas lights. His stress level continues to rise throughout each mishap until, at last, he’s ready to show off his display. And in classic Griswold fashion, he discovers that the lights don’t even work.
Make time for essential moments with your loved ones, but be mindful of when to take a break. Set healthy boundaries and be okay with passing on activities or engaging in conversations that could drain you.
Once you’re alone, avoid getting involved in more activities that will only amplify your lousy mood. Instead, spend some time outdoors or take a brisk walk in nature. The physical activity and fresh air may be just what you need to reset.
Foster Joy And Wonder
Look past all the trappings and stressful aspects of the holiday season and return to the splendor and wonder of what it really means to you. Learning to be content in any circumstance is the key to capturing the true joy of Christmas.
After pressing past the ‘threshold of hell,’ Clark finally has a moment of introspection that enables him to experience joy and wonder amid all the chaos. He finally sees that Christmas isn’t about bonuses, gifts, turkeys, or trees but something more. And in a moment of mindfulness, Clark focuses on exactly what it means to him.
Amid all the potential low points you might experience throughout this Christmas, take time to reflect on what really matters. Go back to what Christmas means to you and hold on to it with everything you’ve got.
Summing it up
For me, being mindful during the holidays begins with knowing the reason for the season. I believe that the hustle and bustle we’ve grown to accept is merely a way of distracting us from the Christ in Christmas. My hope for you is that you’ll come to know Him as the greatest gift of all.
I hope this article brought you some joy during the holiday season. Do your best to take time away from your normal routines to celebrate what Christmas means to you. Set your sights on the new year. And above all, keep writing!
Until next time,
