Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
These Ideas Simplify Festive Meals and Events
It's crunch time now for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Did you make it through Chanukah without a scratch? Try these ideas to reduce the stress of holiday planning.
Shop Early/ Keep Gifts Simple
These tips prevent a great amount of stress. After all, holiday gift shopping accounts for at least half of the stress felt during the holiday season. It's definitely hard to plan ahead with gifts, but if you are out somewhere and see something Uncle Bob would love, buy it then and there. Many times, if you wait and return closer to the holidays, the item is gone.
If you are just not good at shopping before "Black Friday", keep the gifts simple. Purchase gift cards and small items to accompany them. The only time this tip might not work is with children. You might need to buck up and brave the crowded mall to purchase toys. But again, if items can be purchased before December, your stress level will pleasurably plummet.
Another idea is to buy gifts online. Toys, clothing, appliances, and much more can be bought this way. Shop online catalogs. Many stores such as Walmart, Macy's, Kohl's, etc., have websites. Most online venues also have express delivery just in case you shop at the last minute.
Don't Overcommit to Too Many Activities
Naturally you want to do as much as possible and see as many loved ones as you can during the holiday season. But don't commit to too many activities because the stress of this will make them tiring and chore-like. Pick several activities that you cannot miss (a children's performance, getting together with a group of close friends, office parties.) Whatever you cannot manage to attend in December can usually be postponed until January, when you'll have cabin fever and be itching to get out.
Prepare for Events Ahead of Time
For holiday meals and events, relieve stress by planning the day ahead of time. For a meal, know who will be making what. Enlist the help of family and friends. Prepare foods ahead of time and freeze until the festive day. Know who will be hosting the holiday in advance. You can always pick a name out of a hat to be diplomatic.
Keep Holiday Menus Appealing, but Simple
Maybe the stress of making that mince meat pie gives you a yearly migraine. Opt not to make it, or purchase a store-bought one. Enlist the help of caterers or purchase prepared take-out food. Everything does not need to be made from scratch in order to be perfect. Another great idea is to have a buffet. Instead of laboring over the courses and trying to get everything cooked in a certain order, put everything out and let people serve themselves. This plan also helps if you don't have a lot of formal table space.
Enlist the Help of Others
Instead of shouldering all of the holiday stress, allow others to help you. This is a good time to get babysitters so you can shop or attend an adult festivity. Remember to pay generously. Also utilize carpools (for adults and kids) if you, your husband, or your child must attend numerous functions. This is also a great time to rely on take-out or delivered food.
New Year's Eve Stress-Busting Tips
If you plan on going out for New Year's Eve, buy tickets to the event early in the month, or possibly in November. They might be less expensive and the stress of waiting for tickets at the door will be removed. Also enlist the help of a babysitter early in December or November. Make sure to pay extra since this is a special occasion and this will make the babysitter want to return again next New Year's.
For last-minute plans, try going out to dinner earlier in the evening. You may not need reservations because you won't be staying until midnight, but call ahead just in case.
For even less stress, plan a gathering at your house. Limit the menu to snacks and drinks and enjoy the ball dropping in Times Square (from the comfort of your home.)
- For more information on healthy holiday living, read Stay Well During the Holidays and Healthy Gift Ideas for Women
- For related health articles, check out the General Health ARTICLE INDEX
