I Hope You Don’t Meet the Lee Family This Holiday Season

Quick question!  What about the day after Thanksgiving, which throws us into the stress and life’s busyness?  Is it the countdown to December 25? Perhaps it’s the obligatory decorating, the pressure to score Black Friday bargains, or coordinating the visits out of town with family and friends.  But no matter your holiday season schedule, I hope you don’t meet the Lee family.

The Lee family consists of Emotional, Mental, Physical, and, last but not least, Financial Lee. As we dive into Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, rushed, and even irritated by family members and others around us—especially those pesky Lees.

Wayne L. Misner’s quote, “You can’t always control what goes on outside.  But you can always control what goes on inside,” perfectly sums up my thoughts on anxiety and emotional health. The tips below can help with anxiety.

Meet Emotional Lee, emotions that sometimes leave you feeling up and down if you don’t learn to control them. When emotions get out of control, they lead to feeling out of balance and more severe health concerns such as depression (especially during the holidays). The checklist below can help you manage your emotions. 

So, Mental Lee is the black sheep of the family. It can take you by surprise and sneak up on you if you’re unaware.  What’s sometimes prevalent is alcohol consumption or overeating.  Maybe someone is still mourning the memories of loved ones no longer living or even just remembering how life was as a younger you.

And then there is Physical Lee. When you reach middle age, you understand the importance of exercise or lack thereof. A sedentary lifestyle is not an option. Thirty minutes per day is optimal, at least 150 minutes weekly. Walking is my go-to daily exercise. Clinical data supports exercise, helping to keep joints agile and ward off chronic illnesses.

Finally, there is Financial Lee. The temptation to overspend exists with the endless weekly sales leading up to any holiday. When it comes to shopping, it helps to set a budget and utilize cash as much as possible. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Ideas That I Use Not OverSpend:

🎄 Have a Budget and Stick To It
◊ Many Banks Still Offer Christmas Clubs
🎄 Use Ebates to Earn Cashback
◊  Amazon Prime Membership offers free two-day shipping to your home or locker
🎄 Have a DIY Christmas (many of us know how to knit, sew, or crochet)
◊ Bake cookies and display them in Dollar Store tins/boxes/glass jars
🎄 Utilize the free Apps to compare shops and find the best prices
◊ Suggest A Family Per Gift Exchange With Your Relatives

For me, the holiday season is all about family, thankfulness, faith, love, and peace. It’s a time to start reflecting on the year that was and looking forward to the year that can be. It’s about counting blessings and being grateful. It’s a great time to slow down long enough to appreciate the things and people most matter.

I hope you don’t know or meet the Lee Family this holiday season. Instead, I wish you a fun-filled holiday season and a ready embarkation on 2018 with no debt or stress.

Have a fabulous week.

Post photos courtesy of my daughter, Channing.