Laughing all the way – holiday tips
The holidays can be the most magical time of the year: family gatherings, delicious food, sparkling decorations and heartwarming surprises.
Or they can sometimes become a source of stress: crazy travel plans, another turkey dinner, Uncle Fred and too much eggnog and those pesky credit card bills.
Here’s a few suggestions to help lighten your stress and keep you laughing all the way through the holidays.
Spend money you have.
It’s easy to get caught up in a gift giving frenzy and wind up spending more money than you should. A lot of presents are bought in the last few days before Christmas when the pressure to buy is increased by a fast approaching deadline. Remember gifts are never a replacement for your time and affection so choose wisely. A small gift from the heart is worth way more than the latest electronic fad. It’s simple – don’t spend money you don’t have.
Expect your family to be who they are.
Expectations can sometimes be a source of great disappointment especially when they are far from your usual experience. Your family will behave during the holidays in the way that they typically do throughout the year. So instead of expecting everyone to be on their best behaviour, love them for who they are. Along with that, look for the best in your family and not the worst.
Focus on the most important thing.
When you are feeling a little frazzled, rushed or frustrated, stop and shift your focus. Ask yourself: What is the most important thing in this moment? It’s probably not getting the gravy just right, or that the house looks like a pack of reindeer have run through it, or that someone forgot to buy batteries. Remind yourself what really counts and focus on that instead.
Take some me-time.
The holidays are a busy time and on top of that you are probably spending more time with people than you usually do. That can create a bit of claustrophobia and the feeling that you need a little space. There’s nothing wrong with taking a little me-time throughout the day – five minutes by yourself to stop and breathe, or ten minutes for a quiet cup of tea or twenty minutes for a little walk. Recharging yourself will give you the boost to really enjoy the festivities.
Practice moderation.
Someone wiser than me once said, everything in moderation, including moderation. So whether its food, drink, fun or gifts, know where your limits are. Just because someone else can stay up all night doesn’t mean it works for you – unless it does! Remember there are 12 days of Christmas so you don’t have to cram it all into one.
