How to Beat the Holiday Stress
The holiday season is supposed to be joyful, spending time with friends and family and celebrating the season. However, holidays can also bring on added stress. Instead of getting overwhelmed by a daunting holiday to-do list, here are some things you can do now to reduce your stress during the holiday season.
Plan your gift giving
Make a list of all of the gifts you’d like to give during the holiday season. That way, you can start making homemade gifts or go shopping with a clear plan and a set budget. Be sure to include any plans for extra gifts like gifts for teachers, mailmen, etc. and make sure to have some spare gifts just incase some unexpected guests arrive!
2. Prepare your holiday cards early
There’s no reason why you can’t order photo cards, address envelopes, or write a holiday update right now. You can save your finished cards, and mail them out in December. Cards are a great way to keep in touch and send everyone seasons greetings.
3. Get your home holiday ready
If your home is the place where all the holiday magic is happening, make sure its ready. Start to clean and decorate ahead of time so it’s one less thing you have to do. Even if you just spruce up your family room a little bit, you’ll feel much less anxious about having guests over during the holidays.
4. Strategize Gift-Wrapping
Start wrapping presents early, but add ribbons, bows, and tags later (make sure to label things so you don’t forget whats inside). Unadorned boxes are stackable and, as a result, will be easy to store and transport.
5. Buy Baking Staples
Cut back on last-minute grocery trips by stocking up on baking ingredients early. Be sure you have the basics you'll need most often: butter, flour, granulated and brown sugars, baking powder and soda, yeast, and vanilla extract.
6. Remember to Unwind
During the merry mayhem of family parties and shopping events, it's important to enjoy some peace and quiet every so often. Before your schedule fills up, pencil in a few personal hours (or even days) to ensure that the much-needed downtime won't be passed over for more-pressing errands.
7. Let it go!
Try to focus on the most important parts of the holiday - it’s the most wonderful time of the year and you get to celebrate it with the people you care about. Most times we place greater pressure on ourselves than is necessary. Focus on family, faith and friends and the rest doesn’t matter!
For more holiday stress tips and tricks check out 7 Tips for a Stress Free Holiday Season or Christmas Calm: Ten Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season.