The Joyologist

How to spot a Joyologist during the holidays:

First, her sweater will likely have festive dingleballs hanging from it, her accessories will be battery-operated and their car will have antlers on the mirrors. As soon as the trick-or-treaters have shuffled off, they will secretly bewatching Hallmark Christmas movies.

Traits:

Joyologists make our worlds sparkle during the holidays. They organize cookie drives, volunteer at nursing homes, sing carols door to door, plan gift exchanges for all their groups, bedazzle the office, and ensure every delivery driver, teacher, neighbor and barista in their world is recognized with a little personalized treat.

They are also the reason you’re gritting your teeth during a family photo session… wearing coordinating Christmas sweaters…in August. Be kind about it, they really do need to get started that early because they need time to write that 2 page holiday letter and hand write all of the envelopes! If you work with a Joyologist, they are likely the reason you find yourself at a Goodwill on a Thursday night digging for an ugly Christmas sweater or a ridiculous Dirty Santa gift for the office party tomorrow. God Love ‘Em!

Challenges:

Joyologists can very easily fall victim to: Drinking cheap box-wine while crying on the closet floor which two days later, inevitably leads to a front porch full of surprise Amazon packages filled with regret.

If you are a Holiday Joyologist you can very easily deplete yourself and end up screaming “I’m Fine!”, with a twitching eyelid.

Tips:

Make sure you watch your mood and energy level and put yourself on your care list. It’s a known fact that many Holiday Grouches are just former Joyologists who lost their cheer by over-extending themselves. When it seems there’s too much to do and you feel tired and overwhelmed:

Let’s make sure you are prioritizing what’s important.

1. Look at your calendar and to-do list and notice how you feel as you look through it. Does it feel too full? Does it make you feel excited, giddy, or are you dreading some of it? Do you feel unprepared, anxious?

2. Now, when you think of your ideal happy healthy holiday season, identify what that looks and feels like. Give it a few intentional words as well.

3. Now, compare all of your Commitments to your Intentions. Are they in alignment? What can you simplify, whittle down, cancel or delegate to create some space for yourself while still fulfilling the deeper desire of WHY you’re working so hard to make everything magical?

4. What can you use that time for to intentionally fill your cup? Put that on your calendar.

And ask for help! You are most likely a Joyologist because you thrive on connection and making people feel special…getting your people on board with helping gives you a chance to connect and lightens your load! Win/Win.

If you have a Joyologist in your life during the holidays:

For The Love, get up off the couch and help! Lick those envelopes, frost the cookies, and tie the ribbons! And hey, try doing a little better this year about making her feel special…not like that time when you just last-minute threw an orange and a Hershey’s kiss in the bottom of her stocking just so it wasn’t empty. Don’t do that again.

They deserve to feel just as cherished and special as they always make everyone else feel.

And just put the matching pajamas on and smile. It’s not going to kill you and it makes them happy.