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The Mom's Guide to Surviving the Holiday Season

By Xza Higgins, Founder of MommyCon December 1, 2016
To all the Super Mom’s and Super Grandmother’s – what fun are the holidays if you can’t slow down and enjoy time with friends and family? Being a #CEOmom, I’m constantly trying to achieve that magical work/life balance. The additional hustle and bustle of the month of December just adds to that stress, and makes it nearly impossible to enjoy the holiday season. However, each year I’ve learned some simple self-care tactics that help me unwind, stay focused, and enjoy time with my family. Here are my top 5 tips for surviving the crazy holiday season:

Give the Gift of Time
Schedule some “us” time with your significant other. This could be a simple date night, or a surprise night out at someplace significant. Indulge in a sitter for a whole afternoon and evening (maybe even a night away!) and relive the holiday magic with the person you love. Sanity instantly restored.

Invest in Experiences
Sometimes the best “gifts” aren’t gifts at all – they’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences which lead to lifelong memories for your family. If your house looks anything like mine, you have enough toys to last a dozen holidays.  It didn’t take long before we decided that quality time and opportunities to bond with one another made for the best gifts of all. There are no shortage of affordable adventures in and around Chicago. Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo both have great light and holiday exhibits to add a little extra cheer to your visit. Chicago Botanical Gardens, Kohl’s Children Museum, and Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier are a few of our family favorites. Even a walk down State Street can be fun!

Stay Active
One way to de-stress and keep the holiday binging from showing is to be as active as possible. If you can’t work out, then just go for a walk around your neighborhood. Enjoy the brisk winter air and the holiday lights. Or create a new tradition! If you’ve never had a winter picnic, make a thermos of hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows), head to a park, spread a blanket, lay back and look at the stars. Give your kids some extra cold Eskimo kisses!

Take Pleasure In The Small Things
Ditch the lavish holiday parties for a night in with a good bottle of wine. Enjoy it with your partner or just sip a glass by yourself. You’ve earned it. Alternatively organize a girls-night- in with a movie and carry-out (or a Gilmore Girls Netflix binge!). Keeping your social life simple can help you decompress.

Learn to say No!
Finally…just say no! You don’t have to accept every invitation to every gathering. This year, we’re opting to skip traveling out of state to see family so we can relax at home. Then, after the New Year, we’ll make it up to our extended family by organizing get-togethers with those we did not see.

From all of us at MommyCon, we wish you a happy holiday and a peaceful new year.

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Xza Higgins is the Founder and Program Director of MommyCon, the nation’s largest natural parenting convention series. MommyCon will be returning to Chicago for a 3-day multi-conference combined with WEAR: A Babywearing Conference from March 3 - 5, 2017. For tickets, please visit www.mommycon.com.