When you think of the holidays, you probably imagine scenes of carefree fun and displays of love. Families enjoying cozy nights in. Friends experiencing the magic of winter outside. Loved ones sharing moments and surprising each other with tokens of appreciation. But it seems, somewhere along the way, that spirit has slowly begun to slip away.
According to a report by Business Insider, nearly 40% of Americans said that they would skip the holiday season altogether if they could because of the season’s overwhelming stress levels. When you see a number like that, you’ve got to ask: how did “the most wonderful time of year” become such a nightmare for so many?
The most likely culprit? We simply don’t have the time or money to enjoy it. 69% of people say not having enough time and money makes enjoying the holidays difficult. And that shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, the feeling of constantly being on a schedule, not having downtime and being under financial pressure are enough to exhaust anyone.
This time of year is one of our absolute favorites at Cane River Pecan Company — and we believe it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are a few ways you can lighten your own load this year and bring back the spirit of the season for your family.
1. Enforce Work-Life Boundaries
The last three months of the year tend to become a whirlwind sprint for most industries, leaving employees working overtime or having to pick up extra shifts. Unfortunately, this means we’re stuck pouring our precious holiday time into spreadsheets, word docs and business meetings, leaving us with little energy and free time to really enjoy the season in all its glory.
The best course of action is to plan ahead. If you have unused PTO by the end of the year, be sure to schedule days off to guarantee you have breathing room for personal time. When it comes to your workload, make a schedule for accomplishing tasks, and set boundaries for yourself to protect your offline hours. That may mean not checking your work email past 6pm or on weekends and letting your supervisor know that you are over scheduled when work hours aren’t enough.
2. Increase One-on-One Time
Despite what you may think, one-on-one time actually grows quite scarce once the latter half of November hits. We might be seeing more people, but with so much bouncing around from event to event and errand to errand, we actually don’t often take the time to sit down and enjoy spending time with loved ones.
Be intentional about how you visit with others this season. Some days, we have to be on a schedule. But for the days we don’t, put down the phone, pull up a chair and let yourself lose track of time enjoying the company of others.
3. Enjoy Something Spontaneous
Part of the holiday magic are the things we don’t plan for — the impromptu visit from our childhood friend or a surprise engagement. Part of the problem with the holidays becoming so busy is that we make the mistake of overplanning everything. When every hour of our week is accounted for in a calendar, it leaves little room for something unexpected to happen.
Leave yourself pockets of time just to enjoy the atmosphere. Take the family on a car ride looking for Christmas lights. Make a detour at lunch to try the new holiday drink special at your local café. Unplug with a night of feel-good movies. Little unexpected adventures can bring excitement to your season that gets lost when we overplan and overschedule our days.
4. Spend Less Time in Stores
Almost 50% of people say that holiday shoppers are their main source of anxiety. With increased traffic, time pressures and the threat of COVID-19 still looming in crowded public spaces, it’s no wonder that spending large amounts of time hunting down gifts in person drags down the mood.
To reduce your in-store time, consider consolidating all of your shopping to one day or do shopping online. You can also brainstorm non-traditional ways to treat the people on your list.
5. Streamline Gifting
Even if you decide to skip shopping in person, coordinating gifts for a list of people online can still present its own challenges. For one thing, placing multiple orders from different stores can present logistical challenges if one of your packages becomes lost in transit or placed on backorder.
You can streamline your online gifting by working with a company that specializes in holiday gifting. These vendors often provide a selection of gifts to suit a variety of tastes and they can help coordinate your order so everyone receives their gift on time. Not only do you leave your loved ones with a lasting memory — but you also save so much time and headaches in the process.
We’ve Got Your Back This Season
At Cane River Pecan Company, we understand better than most just how hectic the holidays can be. That’s why we’re committed to helping everyone send unforgettable pecan gifts to their loved ones this season. From unique pecan specialties to bulk ordering and shipment, we can make your Christmas shopping simple and stress-free — so you have more quality time for everything else on your list! Get started today by visiting our online store or calling 1-866-475-6278 to speak with a gifting specialist.
Keeping your business ahead of the curve means developing strong relationships — and lots of them. From clients and customers to business partners, vendors, employees and more, your list of vital players is ever growing and increasingly harder to handle. With professional gifting tips and industry insights, Cane River Pecan Company is here to help.
