Want To Lessen Your Holiday Stress?

Posted in December 7, 2009 ¬ 8:20 amh.Jeanene1 Comment »

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The Holidays are here! Everyone LOVES the Holidays! Family and friends, parties, traveling, eating, shopping, wrapping, baking . . . where does it end?

The best thing you can do to enjoy the Holidays rather than stressing about them is to understand and accept that it will not be PERFECT. No matter how hard you try, it just won’t happen. And if you get even close, you will be totally exhausted!

So do some planning. Plan your shopping time. Plan your decorating time. Plan your cooking and baking time. Pan to get done what you can and then just enjoy. But most of all, plan the time you spend with your family and friends. That is a lot of what this season is all about.

You must also learn to say NO.

Do you need to bake a passel of cookies? For the cookie exchange – probably. For your kid’s school – NO.

Do you need to experiment with new recipes? NO – this is not the time of year to do that. You can be too disappointed and waste a lot of time.

Do you need to use elaborate wrappings for your presents? For your mother-in-law – Maybe. For your kids – NO. Kids usually tear through things to quickly to even care. For ease, use the gift bags – easy to wrap – easy to open – can be saved for next year.

Do you need to send Christmas cards to EVERYONE you know? NO! Send them to your closest friends and family. Tell everyone else you are being green by not using paper and stamps.

Do you need to attend EVERY party and gathering that comes along? NO! Need an excuse? This is the time of year I spend extra time with my family.

Do you get the idea? Plan. Say NO. Take time for yourself, your family, your friends. Enjoy the season for what it really is, not for what everyone tells you it should be.