Post Holiday Debrief

Happy New Year!  It's hard to believe that 2012 is already here.  When we started this project back in August, it seemed like we had all the time in the world.  Yet, lo and behold, the holiday season came and went in what probably still seemed like a whirlwind.

You may be surprised to find that there is one final step in our Christmas planning.  It is, by far, the most important because it will determine the success or failure of next year's holidays.  It's time to debrief.  Organized Christmas offers a printable debriefing worksheet that you can get here.  But there is no need for an official form.  Grab a piece of paper from your holiday planner, find a quiet place (this will only take a couple of minutes), and answer the following questions:

• What did you enjoy the most about this holiday season?
• What worked for you and helped to make the season less stressful and more meaningful?
• Did you do anything differently that you would like to incorporate into your holiday traditions?  (new recipes, opportunities to give,  fun activities...or the lack thereof?)
• What was the worst aspect of the holidays?  How can you avoid that in the future?
• How well did your household function this year?  Was it calm and organized or crazy and out of control?  What areas need improvement next year?
• Were you satisfied with your family's level of giving and/or spiritual observances?  How could next year's holidays more closely reflect your family's values?
• Overall, how did your holidays go?  Be honest!  Did you experience the "magic" and wonder of the season?  If not, what changes can you make to recapture it next year?

I hope you were able to answer those questions as honestly as possible.  Realizing that you didn't enjoy everything about the holidays or that some things fell by the wayside does not constitute failure (to those of us who are perfectionists).  But it does help us to make necessary changes to make each year better.  Hopefully your Christmas will evolve over time into the special occasion you want it to be.  It will always be busy.  It will always bring stress.  But the more you anticipate and plan in advance, the more you'll get to truly experience the joy and spirit of the season.

May God richly bless you in 2012.  See you soon!