Holiday Tips: Steps To A Calmer Holiday Season

From my December "News from Nancy" newsletter... If you are not already a subscriber you can subscribe for free by following this link.

First, start by deciding, in advance, what you will do and what you will not do this year.

Many people feel guilty if they do not do everything they think that they should. Be realistic about the free time that you have to cook, bake, decorate, and shop.

Consider these options:

Don't do it all yourself - delegate. Ask your family and friends for help.

A personal chef can make your favorite recipes.

Hire a caterer.

Hire someone to decorate your home.

Catalogue or shop online vs. malls or boutiques.

Use relaxation techniques to stay calm. Slow, deep breathing will keep your stress responses to a minimum.

Reward yourself by taking little relaxation breaks frequently throughout the day, like a 15 minute walk, a bike ride, or simple stretching exercises can make holiday stress melt away!

You're doing plenty already - don't try to do it all. Have more realistic expectations of yourself and of others.

Decide to do less. Ask yourself, "Should I really be doing this? Do I really have to do it or can someone else do it?"

Break holiday tasks into manageable segments, you'll be less stressed than if you try to do it all at the last minute.

Have fun! Smile and enjoy the little things in life like a beautiful sky, fresh air, or children waiting anxiously in line to see Santa Claus.

And finally, remind yourself that no one is going to look to see if your baseboards are clean. If they do, remind yourself not to sweat the small stuff!

And after all... isn't most of it really the "small stuff?"

Have a great holiday season!


Nancy
http://www.organizationplus.com

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