In this episode we talked about 5 Healthy Ways to Plan for the Holiday Season.  But, the Healthy Tips we are giving do not necessarily have to do with eating healthy.

Before we get into the 5 tips, we need to give you some background as to why we are talking about this in September.

So at the time of recording this episode, it is  September.  Halloween is nearly six weeks away, Thanksgiving and Christmas 2 and a half  and 3 and  half months away respectively.  Why are we talking about the holiday season now? Because this is the season when we have the most going on.  In order to get accomplished what we want to get accomplished, we have to start now.

– In September, Cub Scouts is really starting to get into full swing, which means camping once a month, so there goes at least one weekend a month until December.

– We have volunteered to be a part of a marriage group called Thrive at our Church that will meet at our house every Sunday afternoon.  This Starts in September and runs until December.

– In October, we have Halloween, which Leh goes crazy for, and he has to plan out the Cubmobile event.  It is during this time that I start putting up my Christmas lights during this time as well.

– In November, we have Thanksgiving, and Leh has created a goal of having Stephanie’s Walnut Dining Room table ready to eat on by Thanksgiving.  During this entire month, we are trying to also set up the yard for the Christmas decorations so that we can turn on all the outside lights right after Thanksgiving (which we have never been able to do before).  While Leh works outside, Stephanie puts up most of the decorations inside the house.  We are trying to have our annual Christmas party much earlier.

– During Christmas, in addition to working on the Christmas lights, Leh is usually turning a number of pens and bottle stoppers for Christmas gifts.

– Leh is a partner in one of the largest family law firms in Georgia.  His December becomes busy at the end of the year because many Judges are trying to clear their docket of cases and many couples want their divorce finished by the end of the year.   To the extent it sounds like we are trying to brag, we apologize.  The message we are trying to convey is that we get very busy during the months of September, October, November, and December.  The only way it gets accomplished with through planning and cooperation between the two of us.  And, during this entire time, we never get mad or upset with each other.  Rather, we have a great time during this season.

– Oh yea, we also forgot about this podcast as well.  These

– Oh yea, I also forgot about this podcast as well.  These episodes take time to put together as well.

Is this too much to be involved in?  Maybe.  Could so many to do items on our list create a scenario that would be unhealthy in a marriage?  Absolutely.  I have seen couple’s marriages fall apart with far less on their plate.  That is why we were going to talk about this subject now, before everyone gets into full swing for the holidays.

We have come up with 5 tips to implement now.  For more information on what these tips mean, definitely listen to the podcast.

1) If you have not already, implement a calendaring system now.  Make sure that at least you and your spouse can both see the calendar.  We love a blend of digital and paper calendars.  Using the same iPhone account allows us to use the same calendar on the phone and know what the other is doing.

2) Put everything you can think of on the calendar.  Extracurricular activities. Family Traditions.  Plans to start new traditions.

3) Do your budget for the rest of the year, including Christmas/Hanuka gifts.  If you plan a trip, make sure you have budgeted for it.  If you plan something special, see if you can cut back expenses in October so you can pay cash for that special item rather than incurring debt that will only lead to stress in the new year.

4) After putting everything the calendar, sit back and look at it.  Decide if there is something that maybe you should eliminate from the calendar to create a little breathing room.  The breathing room gives you those moments where you can have a little ‘couch’ time.  That time to just sit on the couch and talk to your spouse about any ol’ thing.  It is not something that you necessarily want to schedule, because then it seems a little to regimented.  Leave room to really just enjoy sitting around a fire with the family talking about ‘old’ times.  Or talking about item number 5.

5) Now that you have created some room.  See if you can create a little more to think about how you could do the following three important things between Christmas and Thanksgiving:

a) Extend goodwill – Try to bring a little joy to those around you (Leh does this with his Christmas lights)

b) Give to Charity or Serve in some charitable fashion.  Serving to those in your community is so powerful and gives you an amazing feeling.  It helps you to be grateful for what you have and generates amazing “good” feeling that you are your spouse (not to mention the children) can share together.

c) Extend grace to someone that you have had issues with in the past.  It does not matter if they return the Grace.