Ideas to ease holiday stress, continued...

I created the below article and posted it on Examiner.com in 2009. Several years later they closed their internet doors. If you have found your way to my words, I hope they offer some stress relief to you!

This was my blog post, which inspired the article listed below it.

When I worked full time, I can't even begin to imagine how I handled everything, especially during the holidays. I think I've turned soft; I feel like a wimp now. It is hard to believe but I'm stressed even serving within my new stay at home life! I think maybe the truth is, I've increased the expectations of myself as an attempt to overcompensate for not getting a payroll check. Perhaps someday I'll be able to give myself a break; accept myself without giving me far too many "to do's" which actually set myself up for failure! Why do we do that to ourselves? HELP!!!

Ideas to ease holiday stress

Trying to find the right gifts while fighting economic issues, harsh weather, heavy traffic and busy stores can be exhausting and stressful this time of year.  Juggling your schedule to fit in shopping, decorating, wrapping gifts, filling out Christmas cards and socializing with your family and friends, all within a few short weeks, is extremely overwhelming.  Do you wonder how in the world you will accomplish it all in so little time?  Here are some helpful hints.

Start by making a list; don’t try to keep it all in your head. 

Recruit help, kids in your family or in your neighborhood are hungry for extra money, and most of them actually enjoy decorating and wrapping gifts.

Carry your Christmas cards with you and fill them out during spare moments; your lunch hour, waiting at the doctor’s office or while sitting in your car when you’re waiting for your kids when you have to pick up from school.  

Don’t spend more than you can afford; offset costs by shopping clearance items, comparing prices and bartering where possible.  Are you creative?  If so, gift homemade crafts or holiday baked treats.  If not, gift your time; busy parents or single parents will welcome a personal coupon to babysit for them for a future occasion, senior citizens would love to receive a promise coupon to help them with errands or tasks, your significant other will cherish a massage coupon or a night free of household responsibilities!

If you’re not okay shopping in crowds or you white knuckle your wintery drives, you still have some time to shop on-line and avoid waiting in line for Christmas gifts.   

Discuss your time constraints openly with your family, most likely they are struggling also.  Perhaps you can work your schedules around the holidays; plan your party for the week before Christmas or, better yet, the week after.  It gives everyone extra time to shop and you’ll benefit from the 50-75% discounts that start the day after Christmas!

Remember, every year, somehow everything necessary actually gets done.  Offset your stress by planning, asking for help, utilizing your spare time, gifting creatively, shopping on-line and scheduling holiday parties either earlier than the Christmas week or after.  This holiday take some time to warm up by a cozy fire, enjoy your loved ones and have some fun with even your most quirky gift; this is the true meaning of the holidays!     

Lifetime Art Impressions, LLC Photo- enlist help for gift wrapping or at least a buddy to de-stress with!