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Stress Reducing Hints for the Holidays
By Nicole Ackerman
With the holiday season upon us it is essential to be as organized as possible and to have realistic expectations of yourself and others if you want to keep stress to a minimum. With all of the shopping, houseguests, cooking and dinner parties to contend with its no wonder folks don’t have the time or energy left to enjoy this time of year. I have a few helpful hints that may help you to keep your sanity.
Shopping in crowed stores and spending every penny you have for gifts is not necessary. Try the following:
Draw names for exchanging gifts, have everyone write down gift ideas on the paper with their name. This can save you money, if you set a limit, and saves you the angst of trying to find the right gift since they’ve told you a few items they’d like to get.
Shop on-line & start early to ensure delivery before the holidays. This helps you to avoid crowds and long lines and may even save you money since many web sites offer on-line discounts.
Give personal gifts, ones with meaning. You don’t have to buy anyone gifts that are out of your price range. Give coupons for favors, baked goods or crafts.
Don’t go overboard. Children what a lot and the real reason for the season can be lost. Let them appreciate the gifts they do get. (Good idea: Have kids donate items they no longer use to a homeless shelter or orphanage for children less fortunate. This shows them that they are fortunate for what they have and get as well and it frees up space for the new gifts they will receive.)
Most important: Make a list. This will save you time and keep you on track with your shopping.
Houseguests, whether staying with you or just visiting for dinner or a party, can take a lot out of you. Conserve energy and time by doing the following:
Prepare in advance. Don’t wait until the day before their arrival to buy what you need or start cleaning.
Send out RSVP invitations in advance so you can prepare appropriately for the number of guests you’ll have.
Don’t over invite. Only send include those that are necessary on your list of invitees.
Don’t be afraid to suggest hotels in the area if you don’t want guests. Take into consideration your feelings and needs as well as theirs.
Again, make a list of what needs to be done.
Cooking for a small or large group of people and planning the food and drink items can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for making it easier on your self:
Make it simple. There are so many great recipes available that require easy ingredients, shortcuts and time saving cooking ideas. Use them.
Who’s coming and what do they like? Are they light eaters? Enjoy sweets best? Do they like to sit and eat and talk?
A potluck. If everyone brings their favorite dish you can save so much time, money and energy. You will need to provide the main dish and anything else necessary. Keep a list of what everyone is bringing.
Start cooking the day before. You’ll be glad you did and will only need to heat the dishes and prepare what couldn’t be done the day before.
Dinner parties, whether you’re the host or the guest, can take up every evening and weekend throughout the holidays if you let them. Consider the following:
Don’t attend every party. If you need a night off take it. You can’t worry about everyone’s feelings.
Don’t over book yourself. If you’ve already agreed to attend one party on an evening don’t try to go to another. It can appear rude to rush to and fro and you won’t be able to have much fun. And, it’s not a good idea to drink and drive going between parties.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you reduce stress and enjoy the holidays a little more this year. As simple as these suggestions might be, they can slip your mind with all of the hustle and bustle of the season. May you find peace and happiness this holiday season!
RADIO
