| This Christmas, my family and I are doing something | | | | season. |
| a bit different from normal: We'll be cozying up in a | | | | Step Two - Let Go of Perfectionism |
| "lodge" (on the southern shore of Lake Windermere. | | | | Even with your absolute yes list defined and visible, |
| I booked this almost a year ago and I've been | | | | don't think that this will make Christmas perfect, and |
| looking forward to it ever since. I can't wait! | | | | don't, whatever you do, make your absolute yes list |
| Your Christmas might be very similar to mine, but | | | | into a reason to strive for perfection, beat yourself |
| chances are it will be very different. You might be | | | | up and then feel guilty! |
| excited about Christmas, or you might be dreading it; | | | | Of course, we all know that there's no such thing as |
| Christmas might be a time of sadness for you, or it | | | | the perfect Christmas, despite what the women's |
| might be a time of socialising and merriment. You | | | | magazines try to tell us. Just read the typical glossy |
| might celebrate Christmas in the truest sense of the | | | | mags' headings: |
| celebration as practising Christians, or you might not | | | | - "How to cook the Perfect Christmas Lunch" |
| celebrate at all. However you treat Christmas, I have | | | | - "How to Have a Perfect Christmas" |
| been thinking about what makes it flow with the | | | | - "How to Look Fabulous This Christmas" |
| most joy and the least stress for me, and I'd like to | | | | Eeek! No wonder we feel we have to strive for |
| share with you my best "Christmas Tips" ever - to | | | | perfectionism at Christmas after reading this lot! |
| help you plan a stress-reduced, light and happy | | | | Letting go of perfectionism is about lowering your |
| holiday season in just two very tiny steps. | | | | expectations of yourself and others. As I said, I'm a |
| Step One - List Your Top Five "Yeses" for Christmas | | | | recovering perfectionist, and have intermittent |
| For me, as a recovering perfectionist, going away to | | | | episodes of trying to attain "Domestic Goddess" |
| a rented lodge is, well - perfect! The reason is that | | | | status. Unfortunately, this means that I've spent |
| there will be no "jobs" around the house glaring at | | | | many Christmas days following complex recipes and |
| me, no office admin to snarl at me, nothing that | | | | stressing myself (and those around me) in the |
| "must" be done really except cook (and I enjoy | | | | process. Sometimes the result of all that effort has |
| that!). It enables me to completely concentrate on | | | | been spectacular, but sometimes it has been rubbish! |
| my top five "yeses": | | | | Last year I decided to make Beef Wellington instead |
| | | | of turkey. It was an unmitigated disaster and I cringe |
| 1. Playing with my boys | | | | when I think how much that fillet steak cost! |
| 2. Good food (and wine!) | | | | However, we had a laugh about it, and embracing |
| 3. Immersing myself in the great outdoors | | | | such mistakes lightens it all and is one of the best |
| 4. Engrossing myself in a novel | | | | ways you can let go of that ole' devil perfectionism! |
| 5. Snuggling in front of an open fire with my husband | | | | My oldest son is almost seven now and I've decided |
| every evening | | | | that I've spent too many hours in the kitchen on |
| As each year passes, we learn what makes a special | | | | Christmas Day over his first six Christmases. This |
| and meaningful Christmas and we learn from our | | | | year we'll have a turkey and all the trimmings but |
| mistakes. For me, booking our Lake District Lodge | | | | cooked simply (not a Beef Wellington in sight). But all |
| was a decision I made after really thinking about | | | | those fancy vegetable recipes? Nah! I don't think so; |
| what makes a delightful Christmas for me and my | | | | I'd rather play! |
| family - identifying the top five "yeses". | | | | I've used the example of food here, as I'm a |
| What are your top five "yeses" for a delightful | | | | complete foodie, but the same applies to people, |
| Christmas? | | | | home or any of the other aspects of Christmas |
| Once you've identified them, use them as the | | | | where we tend to strive for perfection. Ride the |
| fulcrum around which all the other Christmas stuff | | | | waves of things that aren't being quite right, lighten |
| revolves. Keep your Christmas "yes" list written | | | | up, love, laugh, and embrace Christmas imperfection. |
| down somewhere you can remind yourself of them | | | | Wishing you a delightfully imperfect Christmas this |
| and you'll find that you will be more resilient to the | | | | year! |
| stresses that inevitably crop up around the festive | | | | |