Prepping For the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us.  Between the hustle and bustle of parties, shopping and decorating, stress levels can elevate quickly.  Keep a few things in mind to help survive this (and any other) holiday.

Don’t try to make it perfect.  Let’s face it.  The only perfect Christmas comes in the form a Norman Rockwell painting.   It is a myth.  The pies may end up burnt or the tree may end up crooked.  In the end, it really will not matter.

Give yourself a timeout.  If you feel that you are just running here and there and can’t catch your breath just stop.  Take a bath, read a book or watch a holiday movie.  Remember to give yourself a little down time every single day.

Ask for help.  If you are hosting parties at your home, don’t try to do it all yourself.  Ask guests to bring the wine or baked goods.  Opt for a potluck meal instead of cooking it yourself.  Enlist your kids and spouse to help set the table.  Ask your spouse to help finish decorating the mantle.  Asking for help doesn’t make you weak – it makes you human.

Don’t overspend.  Sure, we would all love to give the perfect holiday gift.  And oftentimes, the perfect gift can end up being pricey.  As simple as it is to whip out the credit card to pay for it, remember that with the credit card will come bills in January.  Set (and stick to) your budget and you can eliminate the financial stress.

Remember the Reason for Season.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the details of the holidays. At the end of the day, it is spending time with your family and friends that matters most of all.  In fact, it is sometimes the things that don’t go the right way that make for the perfect holiday season!