Holiday Stress: How to Manage Sanity

Holiday Stress: How to Manage Sanity

The holiday season is magical. The lights, the scents of the season with pine, cookies, cinnamon and images of sugarplums dancing in the air. Unfortunately, all of this can become overwhelming when you are dealing with a career, children, managing a full calendar of holiday activities, and purchasing gifts for the office secret Santa and the teachers at your child’s school. Managing stress during the holidays is a chore in and of itself. What can you do to minimize this?

Begin by starting now. We are about 6 weeks away from Christmas. Get a wall calendar for your kitchen or personal space. Manage invitations by committing to a reasonable amount, perhaps 2 per week. Have your I must attend and it would be nice to attend lists handy for your decision-making process. Be ready to decline when you must. People understand there are many events and not everyone is able to make it to everything but when you get an invitation, you must decide whether or not to attend, then send them the proper response. Don’t feel guilty and over-commit yourself.

For presents, make a list of family, friends and work associates you want to send gifts to. Remember, gifts don’t need to be elaborate, they are just reminders that you are thinking of them. Many times simple, thoughtful gifts are more appreciated. Do as much online as you can. Sit one weekend morning or evening with some relaxing music, a cup of hot cocoa, and your list and take care of your shopping from the comfort of your home and avoid the crowds, parking lots, and overspending that happens when you go into the stores.

For holiday cards, decide if you are going to send digital, picture or traditional cards, print your labels and get the cards out of the way early. I set up the weekend after Thanksgiving as my holiday focus. I take care of the holiday cards, online shopping and home decoration. My goal is to be able to enjoy December’s festivities instead of worrying about parties, gifts, cards and all the extras that come with it. Remember, the essence of the holidays is to enjoy those you love and spend quality time with them. Get the commercial side of the holidays over with early so you can truly smile and enjoy Christmas as children do, just focused on the magic of the spirit.

- Bellaria Jimenez