The holidays are such a wonderful time of the year. Decorating the house, trimming the tree, baking grandma’s famous fudge, spending more time with family, catch up with old friends, and even make some new ones. But, it can also be a very stressful time. There are always lots of parties & Christmas programs to go to, out of town guests, gift giving and receiving; it can all take it’s toll.
This time of year should be a joyous one, filled with Peace, Thanks and Love, not Strife and Misery. Here are a few tips to help keep you sane:
Know When Enough is Enough:
Limit the number of parties/functions you agree to attend. A full schedule can be hectic, so choose the ones that are most important to you, like your child’s school performance, the traditional family gathering and/or a friend’s annual party.
Leaving an open schedule gives you the opportunity to have some spur-of-the-moment fun with your loved ones. This list of 25 Christmas Activities for the Family has some great ideas.
Make Party Hosting Easier:
Is your house the ‘hub’ during the holidays? See if another family member can trade off hosting with you each year. If not, rather than doing all the work yourself, delegate.
Enlist the help of family & friends to help clean the day before the event.
Instead of a full sit-down dinner, have a potluck – just be sure to co-ordinate who’s bringing what, that way you don’t end up with 8 pies and no stuffing!
Consider hosting a game-night party with appetizers and drinks, that way things are less formal.
Make a Budget – and stick to it!:
Much of the stress we experience comes from money, or the lack there of. Sticking to a budget will do wonders for you.
Start by deciding how much you can afford to spend. Next, limit the number of people you buy for. Having a long gift-giving list is a big reason for overspending. Make an actual list of the people you will be giving gifts to, and prioritize it, putting the most important people at the top. {don’t forget babysitters, mail carriers, hairdressers, & allow for unexpected guests and hostess gifts}
Next, assign a dollar amount for each individual/couple, and stick to that amount.
Once the gift is purchased/made, make a note of it next to their name, this will help jog your memory and keep you from buying for the same person twice.
Consider making gifts, like these adorable burp cloths, blankets, an infinity scarf, or some homemade Kahlua and fudge.
Get creative. Rather than exchanging gifts, tell a friend you’d like to have coffee with her, chances are, the quality time spent with you is the gift she really wants.
Offer to babysit her kids for a couple hours so she can have a little mommy time. Or better yet, watch them in the evening so she can her significant other can have a long overdue date night.
What other ways can you think of to reduce holiday stress?
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