Here’s to a Less-Stressful Holiday
Season
I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend. Today is the last day of
November, which means that the December holiday season is upon us! This
is my favorite time of the year: houses decorated with colorful lights,
lots of parties, time with friends and family and a time to relax and
recover from 2015 as we prepare for the New Year.
However, many people find the holidays extremely stressful. They allow
the pressures and demands to overshadow the joys of the season. Here are
a few tips to keep your stress under control during the holidays:
• Prune the to-do list. Ask, “If I don’t do this, what
will happen?” Aim to knock the list of chores down to the rock-bottom
necessity.
• Buy, don’t bake. Turn your back on the oven this
year. Supermarkets, bakeries and the freezer department are a great
source for delicious pre-baked holiday treats.
• Call rather than sending cards. Reach out and touch
someone… the easy way. Make a list of whom you will call, and put it in
your calendar. You will brighten many days in a very special way!
• Scale back décor. Substitute a simple door wreath for
outdoor lighting, a beautiful tree that can be the focal point where you
spend the most time relaxing and set out a few holiday serving dishes.
Focusing holiday decor on the big three – front door, tree or Menorah and
focal point – can bring a festive feel to the house without weeklong
decorating sessions.
• Gifts. Do your shopping online this year. Most
retailers will even gift wrap your purchases. Amazon offers free shipping
for Prime members. As the gifts arrive, place them under the tree, and
relax!
• Finger food, not a feast. A smorgasbord of tasty
tidbits is easier on the cook than a sit-down dinner. Share the work by
allowing everyone to bring a favorite holiday dish.
• Stay home! Cuddling close to the hearth beats holiday
travel any day. A holiday
"staycation" allows for evening drives to see the lights,
family campouts in front of the Christmas tree and evenings spent with
carols and popcorn. Fun!
Here’s to the new month ahead. Wishing you the happiest of holiday
seasons. If there’s any way I can help, I hope you’ll give me a call!
Something to Think About
It really doesn’t matter which holiday you celebrate – Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day or Ramadan. Each one gives us a chance
to relax and spend time with those we love.
Weekly Activity
This year, why not do some research on a holiday that you don’t normally
celebrate. Join in a local festivity, such as "Feliz Navidad."
Words of Wisdom
“Going home and spending time with your family and your real friends
keeps you grounded.”
– Jennifer Ellison
“As we get older, we get better at choosing in ways that will make us
happy. We do a better job at picking activities that make us happy, and
at spending time with people who make us happy. We're also better at
letting things go.” – Sheena Iyengar
“You hear about quality time a lot, but I really think that quantity time
with a person is really what strengthens a relationship. That's when you
really get to know somebody. You get to know their strengths and their
weaknesses, and that brings you closer. That's what ‘Time Is Love’ is all
about.” – Josh Turner
“Holidays are about experiences and people and tuning into what you feel
like doing at that moment. Enjoy not having to look at a watch.”– Evelyn
Glennie
“In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in
your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
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