REDUCING HOLIDAY STRESS
Has stress taken the fun out of your holidays? Don’t let it!!!
Put the “ holly and the jolly” back in your holidays and create memorable
“stress-free” holiday memories with these proven strategies.
✴Acknowledge that everything doesn’t need to be perfect..hard but helpful! Let it go!!
✴Start holiday planning and preparations earlier if you can. And if you are just getting started, refer to the above! It will be just fine!.
✴Simplify wherever you can when planning and holding festive celebrations.
While most of us are keeping it fairly small given today’s limitations, simple is always best when it comes through to the stress factor. Simple elegance is queen!
✴ Stick to your budget. Nothing creates stress more than an empty bank account, so stick with the program. Shoestring budgets can make charming results.
✴ Ponder what you really want to do to celebrate the holidays. Adding superfluous obligations big or small is simply not necessary.
✴ Talk with family members and friends about what they want to do. Usually people share in your sentiments but are afraid to bring it up. Be the thoughtful raiser on conversations so everyone can get what they want.
✴ Identify old family traditions. Which ones do you love?
✴ Opt to keep holiday traditions that bring you joy and happiness. A little nostalgia is always good for the Soul.
✴ Give yourself permission to let go of old traditions that you aren’t fond of. It is okay!
✴ Take shortcuts like buying pre-made pies to save time. No one expects you to be Martha Stewart unless you get joy from that sort of thing. If you do, great. If not, let someone else’s do the trick.
✴ Examine options for pre-made meals or catering services. This option is always good and helps support a small business.
✴ Promptly ask for help when you need it. Being the jack of all trades during this hectic time spells STRESS. Share the load!
✴ Keep the kids busy with holiday crafts. They’ll enjoy it and you can get more done.
✴ Take time daily to pray, meditate, and get your mindset right, even if only for a few minutes
✴ Discuss challenging issues in advance with a person who tends to create tension
✴ Short-circuit disagreeable family discussions by interrupting or changing the subject. Nothing like pulling the proverbial plug before a bad scene. Ha!
✴ Make a gift list, considering the amount of money you can comfortably spend.
✴ Shop early and make notes about where to get low-cost gifts. And remember if you are getting a late start, some of the best deals can be had closest to Christmas. Again, it’s okay!
✴ Ask for gift suggestions from the people on your gift list
✴ Consider giving gift cards to save time and precious energy. Time is not replaceable, so rather than stressing about picking something specific, a gift card can go a long way.
✴ Suggest a family name-drawing to reduce gift expenditures. This can be a fun tradition to start and can take stress off all of those involved.
✴ Avoid making credit card purchases at holiday time
✴ Schedule time to be with your kids for some special holiday moments
✴ If you are not traveling this season, like many of us aren’t, make sure to make special time for facetime, a zoom, or a phone call to loved ones you aren’t able to see in person this holiday season.
Remember, no holiday season goes without a hitch. This one with all its interesting twists will be no different, With the right approach and the realization that perfection is not a prerequisite for a wonderful holiday, you will be able to keep stress at bay.
Here’s to a happy and stress-free holiday for you and yours!
Whitney