Handling Holiday “Have-To’s”

Are you overwhelmed by obligations, feeling like you have to be all things to all people – especially at this time of year?  Do the holidays bring up tough feelings like grief or guilt?  What would it look and feel like if you could clear some mental, emotional, and physical space for what matters most to you this season?  

As a gift to you, the Eden Alternative is offering an opportunity to find out with a FREE virtual Lunch and Learn, “Handling Holiday Have-To’s,” on December 11, 2024 at 1:30PM ET.  Explore a simple, effective tool that will help you evaluate everything on your to-do list and support well-being in both your work and personal life. Learn more.

Comfort and Joy, or Chaos and Stress?

Imagine a holiday season that is in alignment with your well-being, where how you spend your limited time actually meets your needs.  If that feels impossible, you’re not alone.  November and December are complicated months for many of us.  While they are framed as times for gratitude and joy, we may find ourselves experiencing much more complex emotions, including overwhelm, grief, resentment, and dread (and then guilt for feeling that way).  These less-than-festive feelings can come from a personal history of loss and trauma, our unique cultural experiences and beliefs, the stresses and demands of our immediate reality, and so much more.  

Layered on top of this emotional complexity is an often insurmountable sense of “holiday have to’s” – a perfect storm of obligations, expectations, urgencies, logistics – and maybe even some snow globe visions of what we “should” be doing.  We may have more on our plate (both demands and things we want to do) than we can possibly manage.  This can feel stressful at best, and crippling, paralyzing, or traumatizing at worst.  

A Little Light Dispels Much Darkness

It is natural at these times to attempt triage: “What is the most urgent?  What do I absolutely have to do next?  What can I let go?”  But by focusing on the what, we aren’t actually tapping into the heart of the issue. The solution lies not in examining the what but rather reflecting on the why.   

When we start looking at our “have to’s” from a place of why instead of what by using the tool I’ll share in the Lunch and Learn, it’s like cracking a code or shining a light.  We can translate what seems confusing and contradictory into clarity.  Seeing the why can bring life-affirming energy to things we once dreaded; conversely, it can reveal that some things we’ve been prioritizing don’t actually align with our values.  Using this tool clarifies what we want to embrace and where we want to set boundaries.  

Some Assembly Required

To be clear, this is not a holiday gimmick, cheap thrill, or quick fix.  While it is a simple and universally applicable tool, it is one that calls upon us to look inside and connect with our feelings and needs.  If that sounds a bit daunting, that’s ok!  The beauty of this exercise is you can go at your own pace and depth.  

If you’re ready to try something different and step off the holiday have-to hamster wheel, sign up at this link: https://edenalt.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvde2trT4oH9DZqy4-nmLzGKhGz85wZ9E1#/registration

The Handling Holiday “Have To’s” Lunch and Learn will be:

Quick: Stay for as little as 30 min, or spend the whole hour together. 

Impactful: This is a tool you can use in every aspect of your life to ease stress and boost well-being.

Free: Our gift to you!

Learn to embrace what brings you meaning and let go of what doesn’t serve you.  I look forward to connecting on December 11th at 1:30PM ET!  

If you have questions or would like to share anything that came up for you with this post, please reach out to Rebecca Hubbard at [email protected].

About Rebecca Hubbard:

Rebecca Hubbard is an Eden Educator and faculty member based in Denver, Colorado.

Rebecca has been working in eldercare, behavioral health, and organizational transformation for over 20 years.  While studying at Harvard University, Rebecca changed her career path from law to healthcare after volunteering in several Boston care communities and seeing the urgent need for a more humane and effective approach.  After exploring everything from administration to staff development to social work, her passion for well-being ultimately led her to the Eden Alternative.  She is an Eden Educator and certified in Eden Empowered Teams.  She currently writes and teaches courses on communication, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, and leadership.

About The Eden Alternative

Our Mission: To improve the well-being of Elders and their care partners by transforming the communities in which they live and work. 

The Eden Alternative offers educational opportunities, consultation and a proven approach to honoring Elderhood, with resources for Elders and care partners to elevate well-being wherever they may live and work.