{"id":87,"date":"2018-03-13T21:19:02","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T21:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yadrachelnj.org\/blog\/?p=87"},"modified":"2024-03-06T17:26:31","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T17:26:31","slug":"racing-to-the-finish-line-take-a-minute-to-breathe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yadrachelnj.org\/racing-to-the-finish-line-take-a-minute-to-breathe\/","title":{"rendered":"Racing to the Finish Line\u2026 Take a Minute to Breathe!"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Here are practical some ideas to a smoother Yom Tov<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Technical and physical preparations:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
  1. Fill all prescriptions prior to going away for Yom Tov<\/em>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \"pills\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      \r\n
    1. Erev Yom Tov<\/em> is a long day. If you are traveling out of town, keep in mind that there is no formal meal until the Seder<\/em> which is late at night. A leben or a string cheese won\u2019t suffice to keep you or your children satisfied. Hungry kids equal cranky kids. Plan options that are permissible to eat after Biur Chometz<\/em>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        \r\n
      1. If traveling, make a checklist. Lists keep us organized and focused. Start packing two days prior to give yourself wiggle room to purchase last minute things. Check the weather forecast to make sure you\u2019re packing the correct wardrobe. Here is an image of a packing list.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        \r\n
        \"master<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
          \r\n
        1. Buy new baby bottles, sippy cups, wash bibs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
          \r\n
          \"baby<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
            \r\n
          1. If possible, sign up some of the smaller children in a Pesach<\/em> day camp. Send some of them for either all days off or even just one day to give yourself some quiet. Lakewood is full of fantastic programs run by adorable preteens the week of Pesach<\/em>. Don\u2019t feel guilty, it\u2019s called making smart choices.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
            \r\n
            \"day<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              \r\n
            1. Staying home and cooking? \u2013 take it slow and easy. The Pesach<\/em> calendar this year is B\u201dH<\/em> so forgiving \u2013 one day Shabbos<\/em>, one day Yom Tov<\/em>. Keep the menus simple. Don\u2019t forget Eruv Tavshilin<\/em>, and if you have no burners on, light a Yarzeit<\/em> candle to be able to light Hadlakas Neiros<\/em>. The first Seder<\/em> falls on Shabbos<\/em>, make sure everything for Seder<\/em> is prepared beforehand, no cooking or grinding allowed.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              \r\n
              \"pesach<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              7. Before you go grocery shopping, have a list prepared of what you need.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              \r\n
              \"pesach<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              8.\u00a0Here is a good Erev Yom Tov<\/em> Checklist:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              \r\n
              \"last<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              Emotional and Spiritual Preparations:<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                \r\n
              1. Self-acceptance<\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s a challenging time. A lot of work, a lot of packing, a disruption of routine and schedule. Keep on telling yourself it\u2019s normal that you\u2019re not feeling the joy of the Yom Tov<\/em>. You\u2019re not broken or bad for feeling overwhelmed. So many of us feel that way. Give yourself that permission to feel uptight, anxious or stressed. Recognizing and admitting we are feeling something is the first step in letting go of it. Don\u2019t deny it!<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                \r\n
                \"give<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                  \r\n
                1. Don\u2019t have high expectations<\/strong> \u2013 those beautiful scenes in the children\u2019s Hagadah<\/em> with serene happy children and beaming mothers sitting around a Seder<\/em> table? Possible, but many times that\u2019s just not our reality. The kids are low on sleep and high on carbs. Sleeping in different beds, operating on different schedules. Hyper, not eating properly, getting into fights with cousins. This can lead to us to feeling inadequate. Let\u2019s start by not having such high expectations. Let\u2019s be open to believe that the nature of a week long holiday will lead to some nights where kids go to be bed with barely eating a decent meal, or some days where haven\u2019t really bonded with your baby because you\u2019re so busy cleaning and cooking. Let\u2019s lower our unrealistic expectations and thereby decreasing the disappointment.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                  \r\n
                  \"expectations<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                    \r\n
                  1. Emotional Triggers<\/strong> \u2013 spending a lot of time with extended family or family of origin when we aren\u2019t our usual upbeat selves is really hard. Sometimes we are spending time with people who aren\u2019t our favorites, and their behavior can bring about negative feelings. Some of it is actual, some of it is our perceptions, either way, the feelings are real. Our suggestion is to keep in mind that you won\u2019t be spending forever with them, it\u2019s just a few days, and soon you will be back home away from the inappropriate remarks or the tactless comments. If it\u2019s too hard to detach, find someone safe that you can vent to, someone who would validate your feelings and allow you to share safely. If it\u2019s a friend or a mentor, reach out and make a call Erev Yom Tov<\/em> or over Chol Hamoed<\/em>. Don\u2019t keep those feelings bottled up inside, it will just fester. Keep on telling yourself, \u201cthis too shall pass! Before I know it I will be back home in my own space with no distractions.\u201d<\/li>\r\n
                  2. Try to boost your psychological resources this week with sleep, exercise, and a good diet, to the extent that you can. Granted, this is easier said than done\u2013and more often than not, putting a sleep or exercise routine into place is easier months before Pesach<\/em> preparations begin. Nevertheless, setting a clear bedtime and getting out for a walk or a gym class even once a week is a giant step forward. If need be, reward yourself for getting to bed on time or exercising.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
                    \r\n
                    \"health\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    5. Focusing on the Meaning of Yom Tov<\/strong> \u2013 you might be too busy and overwhelmed to Daven<\/em> much, and at the Seder<\/em> you might be too tired or too busy with your children to really connect with the Hagadah<\/em>\u2019s beautiful messages. Be gentle with yourself, try really hard to accept that all your hard work for the Yom Tov<\/em> is true Avodas Hashem<\/em>. When we are down and struggling, the fact that we made an effort to beautify a Seder<\/em> table, or buy new clothes for your children is a huge spiritual accomplishment. These are not tiny simple tasks. These are monumental efforts to make Hashem<\/em> proud and to honor Hashem<\/em>\u2019s name. This in of itself is a celebration. If you are up to thinking deeper and want to connect more, read through these thoughts to have in mind at the Seder <\/em>and over Yom Tov<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    A) Freedom<\/strong>. Thank You for taking us out of Mitzrayim<\/em> and transforming our slavery into freedom. Thank You for the freedom today that we have to live as Jews and choose our beliefs. There are people in parts of the world who are still not free, and we Daven<\/em> for them. May they be rescued from tyranny, from poverty, and from danger. Thank You for making us free<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    B) Connection.<\/strong> Thank You for bringing all of us here together to celebrate this holiday. Thank You for the gift of family and friends. Thank You for the incredible blessing of seeing generations sitting beside each other and singing the songs of our ancestors. Thank You for each other.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    C) Home.<\/strong>\u00a0Thank You for giving us shelter. For this beautiful table overflowing with food and drinks. For the chairs, the table and the lights. For the flickering candles and the fragrant flowers. For all the material goodness that You pour into our lives every moment of every day, thank You.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    D) History.<\/strong>\u00a0Thank You for giving us this opportunity to tell the story of our nation. To go back to the beginning of where we began and walk in the footsteps of our people. To feel their pain and remember their courage. To connect their stories to our own stories. How we began and where we have been. The challenges that we have overcome, and the moments that have defined us. The history of our nation and of each of our families. The stories that must be told and retold so that our children can write their own stories. Thank You for this, for our history, and the stories that keep our journey alive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    \r\n
                    \"gratitude-makes-us-joyful-life-daily-quotes-sayings-pictures\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    Take a minute when you sit down at the Seder<\/em> to congratulate yourself for getting here. What a huge accomplishment! You may not have done it according to your standards of \u201cperfect\u201d, but you did it! You may not have done it with the \u201cgrace\u201d and \u201cpatience\u201d that you wish for, but you did it!\u00a0 It may have involved tears, anxiety, frustration and hopelessness BUT YOU DID IT.\u00a0 It takes so much courage, strength, bravery, resilience to push yourself to prepare for Yom Tov<\/em>! Give yourself a silent round of applause and a pat on the back, because you earned it. Kol hakovod<\/em>! If it\u2019s hard for you to feel this, just remember, all of your Yad Rachel family members are silently applauding you and cheering you on! We know. We understand. And we respect the journey. Yay for YOU!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    \r\n
                    \"hardest<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    We hope you have a wonderful, easy, uplifting Yom Tov!!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    Yad Rachel<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Here are practical some ideas to a smoother Yom Tov. Technical and physical preparations: (1) Fill all prescriptions prior to going away for Yom Tov. (2) Erev Yom Tov is a long day. If you are traveling out of town, keep in mind that there is no formal meal until the Seder which is late at night. A leben or a string cheese won\u2019t suffice to keep you or your children satisfied. Hungry kids equal cranky kids. Plan options that are permissible to eat after Biur Chometz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nRacing to the Finish Line\u2026 Take a Minute to Breathe! - Yad Rachel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/yadrachelnj.org\/racing-to-the-finish-line-take-a-minute-to-breathe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Racing to the Finish Line\u2026 Take a Minute to Breathe! - Yad Rachel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here are practical some ideas to a smoother Yom Tov. 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