12 Steps for a Stress-Free Holiday
Do you feel like Clark W. Griswold in Christmas Vacation trying to make a perfect holiday and stumbling through mishaps?
Enjoy this holiday season with these tips and suggestions to manage your time and feel more relaxed, happy and joyous:
1. Practice good self-care: Eat right and get enough rest. Do something special for yourself every day, even if you only have 10 minutes to spare.
2. Plan Ahead: Create a workable schedule to get everything important done. Ask yourself: Does this really need to be done today? Would anyone be affected if I didn’t do it?
3. Shop Smart: Instead of running endless errands and wondering what to buy, keep a gift datasheet in your wallet. Make 7 columns on a piece of lined paper to keep track of. 1) who you need to shop for, 2) what size they wear, 3) what colors they prefer, 4) what hobbies and interests they have, 5) favorite stores, 6) items bought, 7) price. As you purchase gifts, fill in columns 5 and 6.
4. Use 12 months: One way to beat the holiday hustle and bustle is to shop all year long.
5. Do a little every day: Keep cards to be sent, stamps and your address book out on your counter or a table so that you can easily do a little every day.
6. Simplify gift wrapping: You can choose all papers, bags, bows and ribbons in one color family. If paper gets torn, a bow gets squashed or curly ribbon gets wrecked, it’s quick and easy to replace.
7. Forget perfection: Don’t stress yourself trying to achieve idyllic images. Unless you’re an accomplished pastry chef, don’t try to make the ‘perfect pumpkin pie’.
8. Barter: Don’t try to do it all. Who do you know who is a better shopper, baker, wrapper, etc.? Barter with friends and family to help diminish everyone’s holiday stress.
9. Clarify your intentions: Hoping or wishing for something does not have the same power as “intending” does. Intending means you fully expect your desired outcome to happen. Set clear intentions for this holiday season, such as ‘I’ll have everything finished by Dec.18 so I can relax and enjoy the next two weeks.’
10. Keep on Laughing. Learn to lighten up; let go and most importantly… learn to laugh at yourself.
11. Learn to say ‘no’: It really is OK to say ‘no’ to things you don’t have time for or don’t have an interest in participating. If you saying yes because you’re worried about what someone might say, you’ll feel resentful and out of control.
12. Relax and Have Fun: You deserve to relax and have fun every day - and the holiday season is no exception. Spend a little of each day doing what makes you feel relaxed.
Joanie Winberg