Happy Holidays Where All Is Calm, All Is Bright
Holiday gifting, meal planning and travel all require executive function skills with planning and execution. Because of this, holidays can be anything but calm and bright for those with ADHD. Use these eleven holiday reminders to keep merry all season long.
Start with a list
An overtaxed working memory is the flaw of ADHD. Why tax it more during the holidays when you can make a list? While your lists may have lists, it is the best way to manage all you have to do for the holiday season. Once you have the list, be sure to prioritize. Taking things off the list keeps you from having too much to do and too little time.
Prioritize with a calendar
Your calendar is your guide to holiday fun. Get organized with a family calendar month at a glance calendar posted where everyone can see it. Meet together for a family meeting to capture all the details.
Delay additional activities to January
Window washing, room renovations, and any other big or small projects can be delayed to after the holidays. Having your home company ready can mean hiring a cleaning service to help you.
Bring on extra help
There is too much to do during the holidays and so many ways to get extra help. Hire teens who want to gift wrap to earn extra money, getting curbside delivery, and having outside help hang your exterior decorations are all ways to get help. You earn extra time to do other tasks this way too.
Do a little decluttering
Before holiday gifts arrive, take one hour to declutter in the kitchen, toy room and closet. Give everyone in your family a bag and have them declutter what is not used or loved. Drop these off at local philanthropies right away. Taking the time to have less in a space will free up your home when gifts come in.
Streamline your gifting
Editing your holiday gift list is a first step to streamlining. Next, find ways to share meaningful gifts with a variety of similar items, such as books, gift certificates, or homemade treats. The same applies to hostess gifts with holiday hand soaps, coffee pods, and flowers.
Make it joyful
Listen to your favorite holiday playlist throughout the holiday season. Music brings us joy and lightens our loads.
Enjoy the outdoors
Get out and exercise, take a walk at night to see the lights and get moving. Brains work best when you exercise and exercise lowers stress.
Try just one of these eleven ADHD friendly tips to have a calm and joyful holiday season. Give yourself the opportunity to do less and enjoy more.
Great point about not taking on anything “extra” at this time. Do as little as possible that isn’t necessary. It’s funny how we take on new projects in December. Just say no, right??
A little cool for walking outdoors up here in CT. Maybe I should make a trip to Houston! 🙂
Wishing you and yours a very merry holiday season!
@Seana – we seem to find a way to always add new projects. That is something to be aware so that we keep in balance.
This is an excellent list of strategies to help make the holidays less stressful. I love the idea of deciding what NOT to do. It’s a great time to revisit habits and traditions and decide which ones can be candidates for not doing anymore. The NOT doing also morphs into not taking on too much, such as extra household “projects.” Of course, gatherings can also be motivators for getting some things done we normally don’t get to. But keep it all in moderation.
Hi Linda, it is in finding a way to say no that we feel comfortable and at peace.