|
Article - Reduce
Holiday Stress
Holidays are for
relaxing and enjoying our families. So why do we feel more
stressed out during this time? We still have all of our
daily routines to do, plus LOTS of additional tasks. For
example: gift buying, going to parties, hosting parties,
trips to relative’s homes, additional people staying at the
house, etc. I don’t have all of the answers on how to deal
with the stress, but here are two recommendations to help
de-stress your holidays.
The “Lifesaver
Lists!”
We all use checklists and forms at work to
help us keep “on track” with projects and to simplify
repetitive processes. Use this same idea to assist with
holiday activities. Do you write the same grocery list
every Thanksgiving and Christmas? Or how about that
Christmas card list? The same party list for New Year’s
Eve? Streamlining any process with a re-usable list saves
time and energy and reduces stress for you and your family.
And don’t stop
with just the holiday season. Continue this process
throughout the year and by this time next year you will have
all of your routine activities documented. What other lists
would be helpful for your holiday routines? Suggestions
include menus, shopping, decorating, party planning, office
supplies, wholesale club list, packing list for travel,
school supplies, school clothes, etc.
Whether you
enter your lists in your PC or write them in a notebook,
leave space to add or change items as needed. You may want
to file a copy near “the source” to make sure it's available
when and where you need it: grocery list posted on the
fridge, office supply inventory in the storeroom, packing
list in your garment bag, and so on. There's no need to
start from scratch every time you travel to the store across
town or to see a new client across the country.
The Gift of “No”
Recommendation Number 2: This is a gift only you can give to
yourself: learn to say "NO.” You don’t need to go to every
party you’re invited to, every church or school event, or
reciprocate every gift or card you receive.
Say “no” when it
is in the best interests of your family life or your own
sanity.
Unfortunately,
at this holiday time of gift-giving even Santa Claus can’t
give you the gift of more hours in your day. But using the
“Lifesaver Lists” and the “Gift of ‘No’” will help you make
better use of the time you do have.
Now it's up to
you—spend your newfound time wisely and enjoy your holidays!
|
