Deborah OConnor December 24, 2013

The presents have been unwrapped, the holiday meal was wonderful, therelatives are going home and it was another successful and wonderfulholiday. Now what? Let’s talk about “after holiday etiquette”.

First and foremost, write those thank-you notes. Sit down as a family and doit together. You are teaching a lifelong skill that will serve yourchildren for the rest of their lives. Many are tempted to send an emailbecause it is easy and quick and we’re used to doing everything on theInternet. But remember that you are teaching a lifetime skill that theywill need throughout their lives. Thank-you notes after collegeinterviews, after job interviews, after receiving wedding gifts, areessential. The list goes on and eventually your children will thank you.

Send friends and relatives a photo or two from the holidays.  Even childrencan do this electronically and friends and relatives appreciate theeffort.

Buy for next year. This is a great time to take advantage of after-Christmas sales. Giftwrap, holiday cards, decorations, gifts,all are deeply discounted and can be used next year.

Organization is essential. When you take down decorations, put things away in anorderly fashion and label boxes and bags. Get rid of lights that don’twork and broken ornaments. This will simplify things for next year andmake decorating much easier.

Diet and exercise. Most people makeit a point to start a real diet and exercise regime in January. More gym memberships are purchased over the holidays so that everyone can starttheir health and fitness routine. By February the gym is back to normal, with the regulars that are always there. This year, be more realisticand do some research. Figure out what you can and will realistically doand make a plan. For example, instead of saying I’ll go to the gymeveryday and lose fifty pounds, try to form a plan that involveschanging your diet slowly and adding exercise to your life 2-3 days perweek. Make a schedule that you can stick to. Hire a personal trainer ifpossible, as it forces you to show up. You have a much better chance ofsucceeding if you stay realistic.

Resolutions should bereasonable and do-able. Think abut changes that you would like to make.Perhaps you want to learn to cook or take a class to learn a new skill.Maybe you just want to have more time to take a walk everyday. Thinkabout what you want to accomplish this coming year and make a sensibleand well-intentioned list. You might even accomplish most of your goals.

Be kind, empathetic, and follow the golden rule. Wishing everyone a happy and blessed holiday.

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.
She will answer them in her weekly column.


Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skillsnecessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contactat:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz