Stress Reducing and Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season

Do you find yourself not looking forward to some holidays?  Do you wish you had more time?  Do the holidays overwhelm you?  We have tips to help you get more organize, reduce your stress, and connect to a more joyous season.  Tune into for your tips, click here for the radio link.

And isn’t the holiday season about JOY in the first place?  There are many things that can derail us at the end of the year, finances and over spending, shopping, ‘Keeping up with the Jones’, the weather, long lines, weight gain, traveling, and even feeling obligated to attend social parties for work, family or the community.

Plan ahead to change how your holiday season will go.  Click here for another article planning for the holidays.  Make a list now to help you prepare for next year.

They have to pretend to be happy.

Step #1  What is your wish list for celebrating the holidays?  Do you find yourself disappointed when the holidays don’t turn out like you want?

True story…. my husband and kids had no idea about my expectations for Mother’s Day.  So they never quit turned out like I wanted.  I expected breakfast in bed and that never crossed his mind and the kids were very little.  Once I shared my expectations, he was happy to meet my expectation.  I’m sure many of you can relate.

Your partner was raised by different people with a different view of life.  If you never share your expectations or wishes, they wont know because most people are not great mind readers.

Make a clear decision about what you want.  It does take away a lot of stress.  Decide how you will spend your time and resources.

Step #2 Evaluate last year.  What did you LOVE and what did you just hate?  What new traditions do you want to create or what did you dread?  I use a Christmas notebook to help plan and evaluate.

Step #3 Why do you want to change?  What do you want to change?  What is 1 small change that you can do to bring a lot more peace and happiness?

Step #4 KISS Keep it simple and keep it special.  If you learn the KISS rule, it is like a magic wand to help you transform the holidays.  KISS = Keep It Simple and Special.

Step #5 Plan ahead and budget. It will help you spend less and you’ll be able to clearly see where you need to cut back.  A budget really makes a difference especially if you plan ahead and save.  Setting aside money each money to celebrate holidays, special occasions and birthdays helps with the shock of it all at once and it makes it easier to follow your plans.

We even provide a service at our store to help shoppers – especially grandparents.  You provide a budget and a list of people your shopping for and we stay in your budget and pick out wonderful gifts items for you.  For many this helps with planning and budgeting.

Our absolutely favorite budget tool is called YNAB, You Need A Budget. Click here for a link with a discount if you want, or try a free trial.  I consider myself to be good at budgeting, and I absolutely love this software.

Step #6 Prioritize.  What is most important to you?  When your planning and budgeting, it is important to know what is most important.  Who is most important for spending your time and resources with?
Step #7 Enjoy each and everyday now that you have a plan.  Don’t forget that during the December holidays and many other celebrations, JOY is the reason we are celebrating.

Step #8 Take care of your health.  After Halloween there is a noticeable rise in sickness.  One reason for that is all the extra candy and junk food.  So don’t completely step away from all your good habits.  Enjoy the celebrations, but don’t make it a season of just eating terribly.  Try to maintain some good habits and you’ll enjoy the holidays more.  There is nothing worse than feeling sick when everyone is getting together for a celebration.

Follow the simple basics.

• Drink your water.
• Keep eating the good, healthy foods.
• If you want the treats, counter balance that with your healthy balanced meals.
• Keep exercising.  It boosts moods and helps improve your immune system.  Walking has a tranquilizing effect on the brain and can help with anxiety and sleep.
• Get your rest.  It is normal to want to sleep longer in the winter, that is the natural rhythm of the body.
• Laugh and have fun.
• Check out our boards on Pinterest.  We have saved some healthy dessert ideas.
• Take your vitamins and use essential oils to help prevent sickness.  For sure take your vitamins all winter.
• Boost your mood with Vitamin D from sunlight or take a supplement if needed.  Our favorite is Cod Liver Oil with Butter oil.
• Avoid over-eating.  Make smaller meals, prepare your favorites over several days instead of trying to eat it all in 1 day.

Step #9 Wrap up and repeat.  Get rid of clutter and broken decorations.  Make notes of what went well.  Start the plan for next year.

Ideas and Tips

• Hand out non-candy surprises for Halloween.
• Before Trick or Treating or other Celebrations involving lots of desserts eat well.
• Bring your own dessert to events.
• Make sure you have had your protein needs met before a gathering, you’ll have less cravings.
• Brink a good cup of herbal tea to drink at events or bring tea bags with your choice of sweetener like stevia.
• Spend more time away from technology, the phone, email and Facebook.  Spend time with real people enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the holidays and special celebrations.
• Use citrus essential oils or others that you enjoy to boost your mood.

Do less and enJOY more.

Don’t forget to laugh and have a good time.

If you want more tips and stories, tune into the radio show.

Enjoy your holidays and your celebrations.

Mark and Kally

Photo credits:  Stuart Miles, caminoel at Freedigitalphotos.nes