The holidays are often not the joyous relaxing time all the Christmas carols boast about. Sometimes the holidays can be a time of sheer stress! Too much to do and too little time to do it, crowds, spending hours wrapping gifts and cooking special treats, icy roads, end of the year work reports, opinionated relatives, figuring out gifts to buy without breaking your bank account...all these things can serve to cause more angst than holiday cheer. It is important to prioritize during this time and not let the stress get the best of you. Try these tips to make sure you remain stress-free (or at least, low stress!) during this time so you can enjoy yourself and remember what really matters instead of getting bogged down with the little things.
Make a Schedule
Sit down and write out every thing you need to do and remember. Once you know your list is complete, grab your calendar or palm pilot and start scheduling a few things to accomplish every day according to how much time each activity will take and how much time you have on that day. Carry this list and schedule with you, and when unexpected things pop up as they always do, write them in. Often this act alone is enough to alleviate half of the stress you feel. It establishes a sense of control and time management so you don't feel you're being buried under your obligations.
Prioritize and Streamline
Do you really need to run across town to buy themed doilies to put under the potholders for yet more festive decor? The likelihood of any of your holiday guests caring about that is slim to none. Figure out what is truly important to do, and do those things only. If you can get more things at one single store instead of running all over trying to grab the best prices and hottest deals, you might save some headaches, and foregoing some of the deals will actually save gas money! And, why not buy gifts online? You can purchase items easily and save a lot of money and time by finding websites with great deals on the items you know you want to buy.
Set Boundaries
One of the best stress reducers is learning what you can handle and setting appropriate boundaries with others. If your mother asks you to bake yet another cake for the festivites, reserve the right to say you have too many things to do and won’t be able to get around to it this year. If your elderly aunt you see once a year starts in with her opinions and remarks about your daughter not being married yet, change the subject. They’re your family and friends and you love them, but remember that you are your own person and you make your own rules.
Delegate
If the stress becomes too much to handle and despite your best efforts the "To Do" list keeps getting longer, call in the reinforcements. All those friends and family members who offered to help are a phone call away, and no one will think less of you for reaching out. If nobody is available, designate this year’s festivities a "pot luck" and have everyone who’s attending your celebration bring one or two items you need.
