Holiday Tips: Avoid Stress

Today’s fast-paced world is a breeding ground for stress, and holidays often add an extra layer. Unlike our parents and grandparents who enjoyed simpler lifestyles, our lives are so busy we rarely have time for everyday tasks much less the luxury of time to enjoy the holiday season.

Don’t let the holiday season get you down this year. A positive mindset and preparation before the actual season begins can take the edge off of high expectations that can leave you drained and stressed to the max.

. Shopping

Keep a Christmas list of people you always buy a gift for and pick up items throughout the year (mark them off so you don’t forget you have the gift). This will help stretch your Christmas budget as well.

. Cooking

Cookies, cakes and quick holiday meals can be prepared in advance and kept in the freezer until needed (be sure to label the contents).

. Gift wrapping

Buy wrapping paper after Christmas at clearance prices and wrap gifts as you buy them (be sure to firmly secure the tag). Keep gifts in a box in your closet so they stay in nice condition.

. Cards

Purchase Christmas cards after Christmas at clearance prices and prepare them in September (place the cards in a small box on your desk so you don’t forget to mail them).

. Parties

Plan holiday parties early and buy items that will keep ahead of time.

· Spend quality time with family and friends.

. Plan several special activities or outings with friends and family members: lunches, dinners, shopping, holiday movies or programs. Quality time spent with friends and family can energize which helps fight stress.

. Plan a tree-trimming party.

. Go ice-skating if you have a rink in your area (mobile rinks are often set up in large towns).

. Don’t feel obligated to attend every holiday function if you prefer to spend the time with a friend or family. Politely decline. This is your holiday season.

· Don’t count calories during the holidays

. This doesn’t mean the smorgasbord is open and you can eat all you want (unless you’re one of those lucky people with a hollow leg) but feel free to sample small portions of the goodies. You can always go on a diet after the holidays.

. Don’t avoid baking totally because you are on a diet. Splurge and make a few recipes you enjoy, keep a small portion and take the rest to the office or an elderly neighbor who might not bake for one.

. If Aunt Helen shows up with her famous dumplings, go ahead and have a second helping. You can walk an extra mile or two after the holidays.

. Eat guilt-free. Holiday treats and feasts are half the fun of holidays. If you feel you shouldn’t eat certain things during the holidays you will only end up stressed out as tempting foods pass you by.

· Financial Budget

. Create a Christmas account at your local bank. Have whatever you can afford taken out of your check each payday or deposit the amount yourself.

. Make a list of how much you expect to spend on each person on your gift list and try to stick to it.

. Make a list of activities you plan to do during the holidays and note the cost on your budget

. Allow extra money for unexpected activities or last minute gifts you may need to purchase.

· Fun activities

. Plan an afternoon of cooking and baking with your children.

. Host a cookie exchange. Have each friend or neighbor bake four to six-dozen cookies and bring them with a copy of the recipe for exchange with everyone. Each participant will go home with an assortment of cookies to share with their family.

. Instead of hosting an entire party, ask friends to host a rotating party: drinks and appetizers at the first house, main meal at the second house followed by dessert and coffee at the third.

. Go for a family drive around your town late one night to see the lights.

· Delegate

. Learn to say no. Don’t take on more than you can comfortable handle. If you have already signed up to bake two batches of cookies for your son’s class at school and receive a call to bake cupcakes for his Sunday school class, don’t feel you have to take on both projects. Explain that you are already committed to a school function and suggest another parent in the class. Volunteer committees often find a handful of people who always say yes and only contact those people.

. If you have teenagers who drive, send them to the grocery store armed with a list and cash. You can accomplish an hour or more of tasks in the time you would have spent shopping for food and your teenager will experience a lesson economics.

. Assign meal night. Each family member is responsible for preparing a meal and cleaning up afterwards. Small children can make sandwiches or with a little assistance heat prepared meals [frozen dinners or pizzas].

. Rotate housework. Family members can take turns dusting, sweeping, vacuuming and doing laundry. Small children can dust and fold clothes.

· The Workplace

. Schedule one or two personal days during the holidays [request these days well in advance of the holiday season] to enjoy mid-week shopping when malls aren’t as crowded.

. Schedule major projects after the first of the year.

. Complete as many tasks as possible early in the week so you will have energy for weekend activities.

. Avoid overtime hours if possible.

· Pamper

. Take a long hot bath while aromatherapy (scented candles or incense) sooth your nerves.

. Go to bed early with a book you’ve wanted to read with orders not to be disturbed.

. Sleep in on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

. Go out to eat at a nice restaurant in the middle of the week or buy something for yourself because you deserve it.

· Exercise

. Go for walks through different areas of your neighborhood to enjoy the holiday décor. Take your spouse or your child along to share the experience.

. Take a late night stroll to enjoy the lights.

. Arrive at the mall a half hour before the stores open and speed walk. You’ll have a lot more energy to shop.

. Take your kids roller skating or play a game of basketball with them.

· Sleep and Rest

. Get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night.

. Put your feet up for ten minutes before you start dinner.

. Take a fifteen-minute power nap (any longer could make you more fatigued).

. Try to go to sleep and rise at the same time of day.