| Taking the Stress Out of the Holidays | Dec. 2012 |
 he holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, when we reconnect with friends and family, nurture our generous spirits, and party down. Unfortunately, the pressures of juggling events, commitments, and finances can take some of the fun out of the end-of-year festivities.
There are some steps you can take, however, to minimize the stress the holidays can bring and help you stay in control of your calendar (and your cash). If you find yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed, give yourself a moment to clear your head and then implement the tips below to help de-stress the holiday season:
Learn to let go. You simply cannot accept every invitation, handcraft gifts for everyone on your list, make all your decorations and keep the household and your work organized and running smoothly at the same time. Make it easier on yourself and splurge a little on some gifts for you: hire a cleaning service if you're hosting a party or the big holiday meal. Shop online and ship directly to far-flung friends and relatives. And remember to say no to at least one party invite and spend the evening in a bubble bath or in front of the TV with a holiday-themed movie to help you stay in the spirit.
Make a list and check it twice. To-do lists are an amazingly simple and straightforward way to stay on task and make sure nothing gets missed. If you're not normally a listmaker, for the holiday season try to make it a habit. If you live by lists, double down and be sure you reprioritize every morning. And be sure you actually cross off items on your list as they're completed — you can get a great sense of accomplishment when you actually see that things are getting done!
Put it on the calendar. Your work responsibilities don't end when the holiday season begins. Use your calendar to ensure you're blocking off time to get your regular jobs done throughout the day. Then add the fun stuff to your calendar too, so you can see how your days are filling up and make sure you're getting important tasks —from holiday grocery shopping to completing a presentation — accomplished without a last-minute, stress-inducing rush.
Prioritize the presents. It may seem a bit coldhearted to say it out loud, but in today's economy you just can't splurge on gifts for everyone. First to go should be gifts to business associates — no one is really going to expect a present while times are tough. If you do feel obligated to make a gesture, a thoughtful, handwritten message in a nice card is perfectly appropriate.
Realize that most other people are also celebrating the holidays. You may feel under a lot of pressure to get a lot accomplished, but remember, so do most of your friends, family and coworkers. And you will run into roadblocks while you're trying to accomplish normal everyday tasks since so many people are taking vacation days and are not as focused as usual at the end of the year. Work must go on, but people really will understand if things take slightly longer. Be honest and communicate if you expect delays, and you will relieve some of the pressure to conduct business as usual.
This is a time of year when there are a lot of demands on your time — but it's also a joyous season of celebration. Don't miss out by letting the stress get to you. Remember to breathe, follow the steps above, and have a happy holiday!
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