Tuesday December 1, 2009
Now that December is here, the holiday season is in full swing! This means different things to different people, but generally we all have our traditions that seem to define the holiday season. Unfortunately, many of these traditions are time-consuming, and as they add up, the holiday season seems to be defined by stress as well! In the past, I've been as guilty of holiday over-scheduling and "tradition perfectionism" as anyone else, perhaps even more so: I'd hand-craft 6 scrapbooks detailing our activities from the past year and tailoring them to various people to give as gifts; I'd send cards that included a photo (specially taken), a card with a personalized and handwritten message, and a newsy letter printed on holiday stationery; I'd bake cookies for all friends and family; we'd take a night to view holiday lights; we'd go to parties; I'd make ornaments by hand to commemorate each year; we'd have a new advent calendar for each year; we'd have special meals; and I'd spend too much on holiday gifts for everyone in our family--all in a quest to have a special and memorable holiday season. After a while, I got stressed and overwhelmed by the whole process, and looked for ways to pare down.
In the process of simplifying, I discovered that I could do many of these things, but to a lesser degree. Or, I could go all-out in some areas, and take shortcuts in others: I could do a simplified version of the holiday card, but still make the scrapbooks, or I could just give framed photos or email slideshows and put more attention into holiday cards. I could focus more energy on specific areas that were most important to my family that year. Letting go of my holiday overdoing was liberating!
If you find that your holidays get a little overloaded with holiday overdoing, here are some holiday shortcuts that you can use to create more time and relieve holiday stress.
Holiday Shortcuts:
Holiday Card Shortcuts
Simple Holiday Meals
How To Simplify Your Holiday Party
Reduce Holiday Shopping Stress
Holiday Stress Relief
What are your best holiday shortcuts? Leave them in the comments section of this blog--we'd love to hear them!
Monday November 30, 2009
I've always thought that
Black Friday was both a blessing and a curse. Being the biggest shopping day of the year, those who can brave the insane crowds are rewarded with amazing deals--it seemed like an even trade for those who could handle the stress. But now, with Cyber Monday (that's today!), those who want to stay in the comfort of their own homes (or offices? I won't tell!) are
also rewarded with amazing deals at
Amazon and virtually all other online retailers; this is expected to be a huge shopping day for those who want to get their holiday shopping done early and enjoy the rest of the season. I've already gotten most of our gifts (I'm determined to enjoy the season in a relaxed manner this year!), but the remaining ones will probably be Cyber Monday finds.
While you're online, you may want to pick up some gifts that are specially geared toward stress relief--while you're already gifting, why not give the gift of relaxation, right? Below are some of my best picks for stress-relieving gifts. I'll be publishing more lists of ideas, but for now, these should bring some inspiration! (Note: The first one on the list provides the top-rated gifts that polls say people are hoping for!)
Holiday Gift Ideas
Wednesday November 25, 2009
With Thanksgiving upon us, many of us face new stressors mixed in with the fun. Are you dealing with a long, stressful trip? Difficult relatives once you get there? Or a stressful holiday meal to cook? Or are you feeling lonely and wish you
did have these issues to deal with? The following are some resources for you.
And, while you're celebrating, do think of the real reason for Thanksgiving--counting our blessings! Don't let the wonderful benefits of gratitude pass you by!
Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Stress Relief
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Monday November 23, 2009
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This week will be a time of cleaning for me (just as the weekend was)! As we try to do every year, we're going through our belongings and paring down, donating what we don't use anymore, in preparation for the holidays. (This allows others to use what we are no longer using, and clears space for holiday decorations and gifts, and makes our place easier to clean before people come over.)
While cleaning does take time, it need not be a chore. I like to get the whole family involved by working together with my kids, and having a fun 'reward' that we can all enjoy when the work is done. Some people like to see how quickly they can rush through--quicker work means less time spent cleaning!--while others like to take a more leisurely pace, but make cleaning a more fun activity in itself--if it's not torturous work, why rush it? Whichever your approach, keeping a fun attitude, focusing on the positive results you're working toward, and trying to enjoy the moment as you clean, can all bring a less-stressed mood to the work at hand. And when you're done, you'll be left with a clean home--a sanctuary from stress!
Here are some resources you can use for low-stress cleaning in preparation for the holidays:
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