The holidays can be a wonderful time of joy and family togetherness. But, they can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. From family conflicts, managing childrens' wish lists to handling the disappointments that come when plans go wrong, the holiday season can be a let down and lead to a feeling of emptiness for many people.
But there are some things that you can do to manage your holiday expectations and prevent the post-holiday blues. CBS recently published an article about this very thing, and they had some wonderful insights to share. Here is a summary of some of the ways that you can keep your sanity while enjoying the holiday season:
- Enjoy the moment – It is easy to get overwhelmed and want to do everything all at once. Keep your expectation rooted in reality and try to enjoy the moments of togetherness without feeling like you have to keep everyone entertained or provide an amazing holiday spread. Do what you can with what you have and keep in mind that it is the time you spend with the ones you love, not what you can give them, that matters the most.
- Create memories – The secret to a happy holiday season is not taking on more than you can handle. Rather than killing yourself tying to create a perfect holiday, why not try starting a family project or getting everyone involved in making holiday ornaments. Do things that create lasting holiday memories without breaking the bank or getting stressed.
- Set a budget – Set a budget ahead of time and stick to it. Keep in mind that others in your family may not be in the same financial situation as you, and for them, buying many presents might be a hardship. Some groups have even adopted the wonderful practice of drawing names and buying a present for that person. This can allow everyone to participate and have a great time without breaking the bank.
- Do a good deed – The holidays are about giving, and there is no better way to do that than giving to others. You can start a new holiday tradition by getting your family involved in giving to others. A neat idea is, instead of buying presents for the adults in your family, have each family group or family member do something to help others and talk about it on Christmas morning. It will challenge everyone to come up with something amazing.
- Ask for help – If you feel like you are always the one in charge, and the one who is left to take care of everything, try delegating. More than likely, your extended family would be more than willing to help, it is just that they aren't sure what they can do or how to help. This year, try making a list of things that need to be done and assigning them to family members. Not only will it lessen your load, but it will give them a chance to feel like they are participating as well.
Keeping sane during the holidays can be hard, but with a little bit of forethought, you can make your holiday brighter. Don't allow yourself to be suckered in by the commercials that tell you that the only way to make your loved ones happy is to purchase bigger and better things for them. If you keep your attention focused on the things that matter this season, yours is sure to be less stressful.
Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment