Strategize Organize LLC
Newsletter Volume 6, Issue 2
Holidays and a Spectrum of Perfectionism
Background
Holidays can be a time of joy but also a time of great stress. Some people feel lots of pressure to be “perfect” especially during the holidays. Stress can also come from a change in situation. For some this might happen with new resources of money or time and a new ability to be more “perfect”. Others might find themselves with less energy or space and regret the loss of a former “perfection”. In this newsletter I am going to discuss various ways “perfection” might manifest itself and suggest that finding ourselves somewhere along a perfectionism spectrum might be more healthy than constantly seeking “perfection”.
Examples
Some examples of extremes during this holiday time might include:
•setting a perfect table
•planning the perfect meal(s)
•cleaning the whole house perfectly
•planning the perfect day/set of days for everyone
•getting the perfect gifts and for everyone (family, work, and friends)
•sending the perfect holiday card
In many cases doing less of one these activities can reduce stress.
Doing less of fill in the blank allows for more of time, rest, and calm.
This does not mean doing nothing but instead moving inside a spectrum.
What would it be like to be somewhere along the spectrum and not at the extremes?
This might include doing less within the action items and/or less action items all together. For example, perhaps this year you host less meals, and/or have less of everything at the meal (decorations, food options, people) and/or take “host a meal” off the list.
Final thoughts
This newsletter has it’s own built in critique. We don’t want to strive to be “perfect” in thinking about the holidays. But perhaps doing a bit of thinking about what and how you want your holiday to look can be helpful. This can be as easy as thinking about what extremes and perfection look like in your life and how you might move away a bit from the extremes.
Happy Holidays,
Susan
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