Distractions and busyness are common barriers to our experiencing joy. And the holidays are full of both distractions and busy schedules. In this week’s post, Julie Lefebure encourages us to live less distracted lives during the holidays, offering some proactive tips on how to achieve the joy of being present in holiday moments. May this piece be an encouragement to you and help you to just be this Thanksgiving ! ~Gwendolyn

Living Joyful and Less Distracted This Season ~ Special Guest Post by Julie Lefebure

Here we are. It all begins this week, doesn’t it? The hustle, the bustle, and the growing to-do lists. This is the week the online shopping deals and colorful store ads highlight the latest and greatest items of the season. It’s when our already full schedules transition into potentially overloaded ones as we look ahead to Christmas pageants, holiday parties, cookie decorating coffees, and family gatherings to celebrate the season. This is the week we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, oftentimes as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is over, and the turkey in the center of the table hasn’t had a chance to cool off yet.

But before all of this happens, we welcome the calm before the storm. We welcome this wonderful holiday called Thanksgiving.

Ahh, there’s something peaceful and serene and altogether lovely about Thanksgiving, isn’t there? I mean, this holiday allows us space to give thanks for what we’re grateful. It invites us to pause, reflect, and offer thanksgiving to God for His many blessings. It’s a beautiful holiday, full of hope and promise and joy, not to mention lots of great food!

“We can choose to live in each moment of each day, fully aware of our blessings and open to creating beautiful memories. ”

— Julie Lefebure

Yet, if your Thanksgiving (or this season in general) is anything like mine, some years it’s not so peaceful and serene. Sometimes it’s more stressful and agitating. Sometimes the distractions of life and the distractions of preparation snatch us away from what’s altogether lovely. And sadly, we can miss the heart of the holidays altogether.

Not only do these distractions pull us away from living in the moment and embracing the present, but they also steal our peace and joy. When that happens, our gratefulness flies out the window. Our thankfulness turns into indifference. And on top of it all, we miss what’s truly important. Isn’t this the last thing we want to happen on the holiday designed to foster gratefulness??

Don’t let pesky distractions and to-do lists get in the way of experiencing joy this holiday season.

We never intend for any of this to happen though, right? Our desire is to enjoy these holidays and all that accompany it. But sometimes those pesky distractions get in the way, diverting our attention from the beauty of the moment to something else less important.

But the thing is, we can change that. We can choose to live in each moment of each day, fully aware of our blessings and open to creating beautiful memories. All the while keeping our joy! How?

Tips to Live Joyful and Less Distracted during the Holidays

Determine what’s most important to you this season. Is it gathering with loved ones? Creating new memories? Holding space to offer and show gratitude? Is it the meal and all the fixings? The adventure of traveling over the holiday? The opportunity to thank God? No answer is wrong, and your answer will determine where to keep your focus.

Identify ahead of time what typically distracts you. For me, my biggest distraction is always preparing and cooking our meals, because just between you and me, I cook because we must eat. I’m not like Gwen, the host of this series. Cooking does not fill me with great joy; hence I tend to struggle in the kitchen. So, I’m grateful for Gwen and her wonderful recipes and kitchen tips. She’s helped me immensely! When I’m in the kitchen, I can get completely focused on measuring and preparing and timing it all perfectly, that I miss the beautiful moment I’m in. I miss what’s happening right in front of me.
But because I’m now aware of this distraction, I do something about it to eliminate it. I prepare everything that I can in advance so I can alleviate stress and enjoy the holiday more. I can be present in the moment and not lose my gratefulness. What typically distracts you away from the heart of the holidays? What can you do to avoid that distraction this year?
Do what you can to be prepared. We experience less stress when we are prepared. That may be grocery shopping, cleaning your home, or making dishes ahead of time. If you’re traveling for the holiday, that may be packing, getting things in order, or filling the car with gas ahead of time. It also may be something like having time with God in thankfulness early in the morning before the day gets into full swing. Whatever you can do to be prepared to enjoy the day more, do it. You’ll thank yourself later!
[This post on how to stay sane when hosting Thanksgiving from a prior holiday series may be useful when it comes to preparing! ~Gwendolyn]
Pause and be thankful. Throughout the day pause and be thankful for what you’re experiencing, for what’s happening around you. Even if it is far from perfect. Even if the turkey isn’t done on time. Be thankful for it all. Then return yourself back to the present. Pausing and being thankful not only stops distractions from snatching our attention, but it also helps our brains remember the day and the memories we made more vividly later.

These ideas can be applied to each day of this beautiful season. So, give one a try and see how it helps you live less distracted so you can enjoy the moment more.

Wishing you a blessed, less distracted holiday season!