7 Tips On How To Make This Holiday Season Enjoyable

How To Make Holiday Season Enjoyable

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! And it should be just that: festive, cheerful, enjoyable and …stressful! Ooops!! Stressful? When was the last time you really enjoyed the “Holiday seasons”? If you are like most people, by the middle of November your stress levels go up dramatically. Between taking trips, organizing parties, and attending them, family gatherings, long lines at the mall, unending gift lists, unreasonable queues at the post office, you have your work cut out for you.  Most likely you are anxious to see January 1st not because it symbolizes the beginning of a new year but rather the end of your trip to Stressville.

This year I invite you to shoot for a different goal. It is still early enough to make the decision to enjoy the Holiday Season this year. These few guidelines are just for starters:

1. Make your own traditions

Start by clearly defining to yourself what this season really means to you. Does it mean time spent with close family, extended family, friends, religious groups, or a little bit of each? Once you decide on what would ideally make this season festive and special, stick to it! Do not try to recreate your childhood holiday experiences – chances are things and times have changed; you just can’t. You don’t have to be a copycat either, stop trying to copy what the neighbor or friend is doing – you have different realities. However you go with this, remember that your focus is to enjoy and relax.

3. Take Care of yourself first

Seems obvious right? But we tend to so easily get caught up in the spirit of the moment that we forget to take care of our own bodies.  Now is probably a good time to make sure you SEE ( Sleep, Eat, Exercise).

Sleep well! A few extra hours will do you a lot of good, help boost your immune system and in turn make you prone to respond more calmly to potential stressful situations. Establish and maintain a good bedtime routine by going to bed around the same time, in the same environment … with the same partner … (you get my point).

Eat well. When busy between work, family and preparing for the holidays, we easily deviate from good and healthy eating habits: we tend to eat more junk foods on the go, allow ourselves the convenience of eating out more (which adds to the stress of already running on a thin budget to start with) or  ingest all those comfort foods which are generally not healthy. If there was ever a time when our bodies need to be well nourished, it is during this period.

Exercise more. We all know exercise relieves stress; if you were visiting the gym 3 times a week, step it up to 4 or 5 times. The tendency during this season especially with the cold weather conditions is to dash in and out of the mall, curl up on the couch, remote control in hand after a long day at work.  But trust me your body and your mind will thank you later if you choose to step on the treadmill before you head home. Remember that it’s almost impossible to enjoy yourself when you’re not feeling well; others would rather not be around you either.

It just might mean taking a week’s vacation all by yourself! That’s okay too.

3. It’s not all about gifts!

Yes you read it right. If you are raising a family, now’s the time to start teaching your kids the significance of this season. Lay emphasis on the importance of spending time together and giving back. Depending on your beliefs, explain the real reason behind the season and festivities; for a Christian like me, Christmas is all about the gift of Christ to mankind. An easy way to do this is by reading them relevant stories. Teach your children the importance of giving as opposed to always receiving – volunteer with your family at a local shelter; send Christmas shoe boxes to less fortunate families around the world filled with basic necessities like toothpastes, this gives kids a better appreciation of what they have or will receive.

4. Learn to say “no”

It’s as simple as, “I don’t have to attend every party or event I am invited to.” Well, the truth is that most people don’t particularly like or get along with the people they ‘hang out’ with at these gatherings. The thought alone of possibly driving 30 minutes one way, to spend a couple of hours faking smiles is stressful enough. Give yourself a break, and save your facial muscles for genuine smiles with the ones you love. It is also OK to say ‘no’ to parents and other close family members who expect you to make a family trip this year; after all, there are other ‘hassle-free’ periods during the year.

5. Plan ahead

If you are indeed going to hit the road, make sure to book your trip ahead of time and purchase tickets before the prices get so high they make you sweat; if driving, be sure to service your car and make other arrangements in advance; parents know how challenging it is to pack up the kids for long trips between cities and states, be sure to think ahead and stock up on food, drinks, and entertainment especially their favorite toys … don’t forget the first aid kit.

If hosting a party, avoid last minute shopping; shop for the holidays ahead of time as well – do you know that it’s actually cheaper to purchase Christmas trees and decorations when they go on sale right after Christmas?  It’s also wiser to purchase reusable trees that if properly stored could serve your family for years.

6. Be financially smart

Part of planning ahead requires budgeting and establishing spending limits. Be realistic, prioritize, avoid credit cards – this is the time of year when most credit cards are maxed out as we go on emotional spending sprees and then wonder how to pay the amassed debt later. If you can’t afford it, don’t get it, it is not the end of the world. Remember that it is not all about the material things, it’s really about what you decide to make it.

7. Breathe, Relax … and Enjoy yourself.

There is never a moment like the present, it is indeed a PRESENT – your most wonderful gift for this season.

Facebook Comments

Related Posts

Comments

Do not miss