While thinking of the topic of how to deal with stress over the holidays, my husband gave me a Kiss. Afterwards I thought, Keep It Simple Sweetheart.
What great advice for the holiday stress: Keep It Simple. We tend to try and do everything to get ready for the holidays, and then we get stressed out and wonder why.
I began to think, what are ways we can get the most of the holidays and still keep it simple sweetheart? Here are some suggestions.
Ask yourself, "What is the true meaning of Christmas and am I showing this to others?" Keep in mind this question does not have one specific answer. Some people believe 'Jesus is the reason for the season,' while others might believe it is all about sending love and joy to others. Some times we spend so much time in the traditions we forget why we are doing this.
Keep a budget. Not just a money budget, but a budget of your time. Do we really need to do it all?
Start early. The more you get done early on, the less you need to do closer to the holidays. I set a side a month for each group of people on my list. June: my husbands family; July: my family; August: teachers and bus drivers; September: my husband; October: my youngest; November: my oldest; and when December comes I have the time and energy to do all of the extras.
Ask yourself. "Do I need to do it all?" If you are always hosting Christmas, are you taking the joy away from some one else? Or maybe it is your turn to host this year's family dinner? Do you have to do it all? Try to delegate things, and simplify by trying not to make extra work for yourself. Do you have to make mashed potatoes when baked potatoes will do?
Don't sweat the small stuff. I used to worry about everything, and always tried to prevent fights from happening. Then one very stressful year, after my son was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve, I decided to make a new rule: let it go unless someone is endangering themselves or others . That year was the first I actually had a holiday with little stress, despite what was going on. Now I sit back and find that some of the weird behavior I used to dread can actually be the entertainment (assuming no one is actually getting hurt).
Last but not least, take care of yourself. If you don't, who will? And, you cannot enjoy the holidays if you are not at peace.
