The Ghost of Christmas Perfection

by WiredBerries Editors — December 14, 2007

Almost everyone has a bit of perfectionist hiding inside, even if it only rears it's demanding head every once in a while. But if any time really brings it out, it's the holidays. There seems to be an unspoken rule that we need to enjoy the holidays more than others times of the year, which can cause some of us to go overboard in wanting everything to be "perfect." The problem is that rather than making things better, perfectionism tends to just be exhausting. In extreme forms, it can even cause a nervous breakdown. Here's how to celebrate the holidays without going crazy:

• Remember that the holiday season is just one small part of the year, and that you can only do so much. These tactics should help you get more satisfactions out of the season.
• Only do things that bring joy to you and the people you care about. If you don't want to go to Aunt Betty's gathering, don't go.
• If you do go to "obligatory gatherings," focus on renewing just a few of the relationships that matter most to you rather than thinking you have to make a superficial connection with everyone present.
• Don't worry about having a perfectly clean house, perfect clothes, and perfect meals. Do you think your loved ones would rather have a calm, happy version of you in a slightly messy house or a frazzled version in a meticulous setting?
• Remember that gift-giving should be fun. Don't worry so much about the price tag or the gift itself. Don't worry about missing someone on the list or receiving a gift that you didn't plan on reciprocating. It happens, but it's not worth stressing about. Normal, healthy people understand that gifts are just tokens of love and appreciation regardless of what you give.
• Be flexible; things don't have to go just as planned in order for them to be fun and refreshing. It's all about attitude.