Though we all look forward to the holidays coming round, they can be as stressful as moving house or having a job interview particularly the end of year and New Year holidays. Money, preparations and family expectations are top of the list of stress inducers at these times, but you don’t need to succumb to any of them. With careful thought and planning you can keep your holiday stress free and full of spirit.
Instructions
1. Plan in advance rather than leaving everything to the last minute, that way the event won’t seem so enormous and when it arrives and you can relax and enjoy it. Start planning at least three weeks ahead and use a day planner so you can allocate a balanced amount of time to each preparation.
2. Keep a list throughout the year and pick up gifts as you go along, then you won’t have to face the seasonal rush. This will allow you to save money by checking out sales throughout the year.
3. Examine your expectations and check that they are realistic. Don’t expect too much of yourself in too short a time. Be flexible so that if something suddenly comes up you can rearrange your tasks. This way you will avoid getting stressed if things don't go exactly ro plan.
4. Visit someone lonely this holiday to cheer them up. Residential homes and shelters have plenty of people who don’t have family to share the season with. This will not only benefit the other person but will help put your life into perspective if you're feeling blue.
5. Change your usual routine and create new traditions of sharing time and gifts. Changing from the usual annual routine will help you avoid stress by allowing you to use your creativity to create new ways to celebrate the season. It might be something as simple as sharing gifts at a different time of day or a little more challenging such as arranging holiday dinner at a different venue.
6. Take care of your health during the holidays. Don't over indulge or you'll regret it later. Try to get regular exercise during the holiday season. If you can't make it to the gym, at least try to walk for twenty minutes each day. This will ensure that you don't pile on those extra pounds--a major cause of post-holiday blues.
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