It’s that time of year when we all wind down, reflect on the year, and rest up for another set of twelve busy months.

I wish the above were true.  

Holiday Traditions

What do you look forward to during the holiday season?  

I always appreciated a break from school, Christmas and Hanukkah parties, college football bowl games, decorations, and most importantly “Nanny Cookies” (These are the best butter spritz cookies with a single red or green M&M in the middle, compliments of my grandmother, may she rest in peace.  Love you, Nanny).  Message me for the recipe of these, you won’t be disappointed.  

These days (especially in 2020), it seems that some of my favorite traditions have been put on hold.  

• I am not in school and work is busier than ever.

• Holiday parties are off, socially distant in an awkward way, or irresponsible.

• The NCAA, football coaches, and the players can’t seem to agree on what games should be played, nor stay healthy enough to travel and play them.

• Decorations seems to be a little less important without people to come over and see them.

• I can’t eat Nanny Cookies due to my digestive issues.

This entry is really starting off well.  If you are even still reading at this point, thank you.  And it’s all down hill from here!

I referenced those things because they used to be my mental relaxation.  I looked forward to them every year (I still do).  Unfortunately though, I have noticed an increasing need to make time for them.  They are no longer the focus of the season.  

This is not my attempt to promote college football to your number one priority during the holidays.  But, I think it is healthy for us to have seasons (except winter…brr).  I mean periods of the year, or even our lives, not necessarily seasons of weather.  

Consistency or Overkill?

I understand that some of the greatest creators in human history have spent much of their lives concentrating on a single task.  I don’t discourage diligence and consistency.  See the E-Impact blog entry on Motivation.  However, I also encourage a variety of disciplines, trying new things, and breaks (both mental and physical).   

There should be times throughout the year that we concentrate on certain things.  It does’t necessarily have to be this time of year, but traditionally, generosity (and for me, the things listed above too) is highlighted now.  

I am concerned that the “clutter” in our lives has, whether consciously or subconsciously, replaced some of the important parts of this season.  

The Seasons of Life

If we zoom out from a view of the holiday season to a broader view of our lives, we can find many seasonal examples.  Take a look at your career, your family dynamics, your health, even your leisure habits.  They all change and many are cyclical.  Some may switch more frequently than others, but those changes are healthy.  You can only do the same thing so many times without it becoming monotonous or even lose its effectiveness.  

Here are some words that indicate the seasons and special periods of life, human and beyond:

-Schools out for the summer!

-Summer Squash

-Spring cleaning

-It’s just a “phase”

-Adolescence

-Menstrual Periods

-Meditation

-Diets

-Sports Seasons

-Garden Seasons

-Christmas Vacation

-Sabbaticals

-Earnings Season

-Conference Season

-Wedding Season

-Hunting/Rabbit Season (“wabbit” in Elmer Fudd voice)

-Mating Season

-Going South for the Winter

-Retirement

-Pregnancy

-Orbits

-Solstices

-Vacations

The examples are endless.  Seasons and timing are part of life.

The “Everything’s Available World”

With the advancement of technology and the on-demand culture, I fear that many seasons and periods are losing their luster.  If I want a particular type of food, I don’t have to wait until it’s “in season”.  I can pull up any TV show I want without waiting.  I can travel to most parts of the globe at anytime no matter the conditions.

Back to the season at hand.  I just went to a Christmas tree farm with my mother-in-law and wife to pick up a fresh, pine-smelling beauty to set up (and drag needles everywhere with) at the homestead (the farm style home my wife grew up in).  Slight exaggeration, but we’re not too far from being able to buy a Christmas tree any time of year, in any style, color, size, with lights, or with fake snow.  If I love Christmas decorations, why don’t I just buy a new tree every month and have one up all year long?  

There is no concentration on important things of the time in the “everything’s available world”.   Picking out the ideal Christmas tree is no longer needed because we have the perfect vanity tree for our house that takes ten minutes to unpack and set-up.  We don’t even put up exterior lights!  We just plug in the little projector thing and it shines directly on the front of the house (thanks to my father-in-law, the family’s really getting some pub’ here).  

Good, Bad, or In Between

We need to make certain things in life a priority at different times.  How do we do that?

I think we need to consider the things that are “distracting” us.  Often, these things are not necessarily bad.  In one way, this is good, because we can justify our “distractions” as acceptable.  It’s not like we are replacing traditional with blasphemy.  However, I say that some of those good things should have their own time and place.  

Git ‘Er Done or Dedicate the Time?

There was a time in my life when I felt education was a task and not an opportunity.  Perhaps it was the system that I was raised in, or maybe it was just my personality.

One thing that I remember most students agreeing on was homework.  We didn’t like it.   Thankfully, my teachers were pretty forgiving in their assignments.  Despite the reasonable load, I was often determined to eliminate homework.  At times, I tried requesting a pass on the work all together, but that never seemed to work.  However, there was an alternate strategy.  It was called school work.  

Surprisingly, most teachers in high school would provide their homework assignments at the beginning of class by writing them on the board or some other method.  Unless it was a riveting lecture during class it was normally a great opportunity to get a head start or complete your home work before you even got home.  

There may have been some students who made it home from school by three o’clock, but I often didn’t make it back to my house until six.  It was pushing eight by the time we were done with dinner.  The last thing I wanted to do at that point was homework.  There was always some sort of sport on television (I need to write about the rise of ESPN and how it shaped a young boy’s life) or maybe a video game to play (also need to write about the battle between Nintendo and Sony, prior to Microsoft entering the game when I was in college, here Gunnar Esiason and I talk about it on Episode 21 of Speaking of Impact). 

Looking back on the strategy to get ahead on my homework as much as possible, I have mixed thoughts.  I would do it again, but I might think differently.  It surely trained the brain to multitask.  That helps me to this day.  But, it also gave me need for constant productivity, which can be a bit of a curse.  Read Azeem Khan’s article "Dealing With the Curse of Productivity" for some help if ups have a similar issue. 

The Trick that is Productivity 

Taking it back to present day, I find myself busier than ever no matter how much multitasking that I do.  In theory, if I multitask when I am being productive, I should be able to save some time and have more time to be “not-productive”.  Which for me, as stated above, would involve partying, watching football, decorating, and eating cookies.  Doesn’t that sound fun?  How could I not prioritize?

What would Dr. Travis Parry from Episode 16 of Speaking of Impact say?  I’m sure he’d tell me to take a break and take care of myself.

The paradox here is that I am doing something that you would think helps me spend more time relaxing.  

Conclusion:  I tend to multitask for the sake of chasing something futile.  I’ll never get to the point of maximum productivity.  My human nature will not allow it.  Help me!

Good Pressure

Maybe I should give up blog writing.  

Full disclosure:  I do feel some pressure to write every week.  I think it’s a good pressure though.  It’s very hard to write while also doing something else.  I type this as I have had a day of interruptions.  It normally takes me about two hours from start to finish to write an entry.  I am currently at about eight hours.  Yet, it’s probably less than one hour in actual full concentration mode.  My excuse is that I am in Michigan, away from home, where my wife grew up (probably why the family is coming up so much).  On a typical Saturday, I have dedicated time to write.  No distractions.  Productive AND relaxing.  

I will not quite blogging anytime soon.  The pressure is good because it relates to a desire to do something with a dedicated time period (season) and schedule and of course, to share information.  You have some “good pressure activities” too.  Prioritize them.  

Full Disclosure

Sadly, writing might be the only “tradition” that I am participating in this year.  On a positive note, it will carry me through.  

Part of the reason I write E-Impact is for positive outcomes.  I want to see great people do great things.  With that being said, it is not without struggle we grow.  

It would be foolish for me to present a perennially positive existence.  The fact is that things are not perfect in this world.  Not every blog entry is going to be sunshine and roses (always wanted to use that saying).  Some need a solid euphemism.  I am caught between a rock and hard place.  See what I did there?

Making This Season Count

During this holiday season, take some time to prioritize what matters most.  I cannot tell you what matters most for you, but some things do.  The other things can wait their turn.  Don’t let them clutter your relaxation and clarity.

Clutter Cutters

Here are five ways to declutter your holiday season (can be applied in any season):  

1. Write down three priorities, schedule them, and commit to executing.

2. Identify three things that can wait until after the season to get done. Don’t do them until then.

3. Schedule dedicated family/friend time to participate in some traditions or make some

4. Learn to say “No” (respectfully, of course). Now is not the time to take on new projects. If at all possible, make the priorities count. There will be plenty of time for new things next season.

5. Do something generous that helps someone else declutter. I realize this seems to contradict #4. It doesn’t. This is #5. You’ve already freed up the time to do this and it’s not for the purpose of maximizing your productivity. It’s to help others.

Are You With Me?

Let’s acknowledge it’s a weird year and holiday season.  It’s not perfect.  We’re not perfect.  We need help.  Provide it for each other.  

Cut the clutter from your life.  Connect your impact.