Is it me or does being behind feel so much more behind during the holidays? I usually have a to-do list and parts of the house to clean, deadlines to meet, etc. And yet, during the holidays there’s all of that- and 10x more errands (from gift buying to food), more cleaning (because somehow decorating causes a bit of a mess before it all looks so pretty!), more to-dos (all of that plus extra card writing, parties, appts, etc)- which makes all of the things that I need to do much larger (longer?) than any other time of year. Each year I tell myself that I’ll be ahead for the holidays- decorate and shop early, send cards and pre-write posts, so that I can spend the season really enjoying the parties and the jolly.
Yet, this year? With all of those good intentions. I’m behind. My to-do list seems just to grow and shoots, cleaning, and me time seem to be at the bottom of the list. Not to mention that I haven’t even started shopping for gifts (for others!) And being behind at this time of year feels so much more behind than any other time of year. I’ve written about holiday stress before (see here), as it seems that holiday stress isn’t a new thing. I still haven’t figured out how to deal with holiday stress, other than getting through it, though this year, as behind as I am (because it’s not just a feeling), I have a plan.
My next week is insane. I need to shoot and write blog posts, clean, do errands, clean- all while I’ve booked a print job! (Which I am incredibly grateful for and excited about- if you’re new here, my other “job” is acting/modeling- and I can’t be more thrilled to book! However, that means that there’s a chance a good part of my week involves 12 hour days working on things that aren’t mine) However, my goal is to push myself: Today through Tuesday, get the most done: shoots, cleaning, all the errands, all the writing. I work on the print gig Wed-Friday. Then I’ll take Saturday off (Aka there’s a chance I may be sleeping all day!), then hit the ground running NEXT Monday to finish everything off, in the hopes that I can be done by next Wednesday or Thursday, and then take some time off (except for posting sales and outfits!). A bit ambitious? Perhaps, and there may come time where I decide that what’s not done just won’t get done and call it no longer behind. But, I’m hoping that I can use all the deadlines and the stress to go from behind to on time. (I worry about aiming for ahead!)
Being behind this year feels awful. It’s not just one thing, it’s feels like ALL the things, and like being behind gets in the way of the joy. I’m trying to remind myself that it’s ok to take time for joy, that what absolutely needs to get done will get done, and that behind is a state of mind. That sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. What are your tips for dealing with being behind at that holiday season? Do you ever get ahead?
Wishing is all a week of completed to-do lists and amazing shoes!
XO RA
