“The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect.” – Charles N. Barnard -
Avoiding Stress During the Holiday Season
Every year the holidays present us with the same challenge; how do we embrace the special moments without sacrificing our sanity.
Holidays, as we know, can be a particularly stressful time for everyone. There’s the cleaning and decorating to do, invitations to send, menus to plan, cookies and cakes to bake, and the “perfect” gifts to buy and wrap. With the demand to create the “perfect Christmas”, it is easy to become overwhelmed by “holiday stress”! Instead of feeling the fun and joyful thrill of the holidays we fill ourselves with dread, hoping that we can simply make it through the week in one piece.
This is not the way to spend your holidays.
Coping with holiday stress need not be difficult. Here are some tips to help you enjoy a stress free Christmas season.
1. First and foremost, have realistic expectations.
We all long to have the ideal holiday gathering: a lovely party with family and friends, a magnificent feast, and wonderful gifts perfectly wrapped sitting under a spectacular tree. Unfortunately, perfection is seldom attainable, especially at Christmas! There is no perfect gift, or tree or family! There will be a few set backs….burnt cookies, toys without batteries and differences in opinions. Accept that things are what they are and try focusing on your blessings instead. Being grateful for all you have will leave little room for stress.
2. Plan ahead and treat preparations as a project.
Treat your holiday preparation as if it’s a project. List all the tasks that need to be done, determine a time frame for each task to be completed and detail the steps required to accomplish the tasks. Decide which tasks can be delegated to others and which ones you need to personally take care of. Planning helps put you at ease knowing that you are in full control and that everything that needs to be done will be taken care of.
3. Set a budget
According to a recent poll done by the American Psychological Association (APA), money issues topped the list of holiday stresses. The survey found that 61% of Americans listed lack of money as the number one cause of holiday stress.
This year, determine the amount of money that you can comfortably afford to spend on gifts and holiday preparations and stick to it. Overspending will only create additional stress for yourself as you struggle to pay the bills months later.
4. Learn to delegate tasks
With a well laid out plan and a well thought out budget, it’s time to get to work. This year, instead of doing everything yourself, ask for help. Involve your family members and friends in the preparations. Ask your husband to help with the shopping and get the kids to decorate the tree. Invite your friends to a gift-wrapping party and include a cookie exchange. Plan a family Pot Luck and ask everyone to bring their favourite dish. If you are planning an Open House, consider having your Christmas or new Years party catered. Letting everyone contribute, in their own unique way, will make Christmas Day a true family celebration. Who knows, the fun may well be in the preparation itself.
5. Adopt positive thinking
Be positive about things. Instead of conjuring up images of every catastrophe that could befall your family celebration, think about everything that could go well. Stop worrying about what your family and friends might think about the party or whether they like the food and the gifts – it is just a waste of your energy. If you are anxious and need to feel that you can confidently handle any potential problems, mentally rehearse how you will deal with any unpleasant or uncomfortable moments and then focus on the positive and let it go!
6. Give yourself a break.
Preparing for the holidays tends to stress you out both physically and mentally. Remember to take a some time for yourself. Indulge in activities and hobbies that help relieve stress like listening to music, read a great book or take a walk with your dog. Take your mind off the all the holiday tasks and forget about it for a while. A little down time will refresh and rejuevenate your mind, body and spirit
7. Make healthy choices
Overeating, drinking and late nights are all a part of the holidays. Make a conscience effort to stay healthy. Try to keep to your routine as much as possible, exercise, get sufficient sleep and rest and consume unhealthy food in moderation. No one wants to ring in the New Year with an extra ten pounds to shed! Healthy choices will help maintain a strong immune system which will help you in fight off the effects of stress.
Holidays are the time to catch up with old friends and family members and enjoy the spirit of the season. Count your blessings and approach each moment with gratitude and joy. If you fill your heart with the true spirit of Christmas there will be no room for stress!
Wishing you a joyful, stress-free holiday!
Please check back tomorrow where we chat about Kitchens 101!
