Between a suffering economy and high prices, traffic jams and overcrowded department stores, stress is something that is nearly impossible to avoid during the holiday season. Here are some suggestions that can make the holiday season less stressful and much more enjoyable.
Get Shopping and Wrapping Done Early
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to maneuver through masses of stressed out holiday shoppers to find what you are looking for, so try to get it done early. If your budget allows it, try to begin gift shopping as early in the season as you possibly can to avoid the crowds.
- Make a detailed list of everyone on your gift list, what items you will be buying, and keep it with you. Check items off of the list as they are purchased so they are not forgotten about and purchased a second time.
- Wrap and label gifts as soon as they are brought home so that all of the wrapping does not have to be done at once. Leave ribbons/ bows for the last minute so that they are not crushed or damaged.
Entertaining
While entertaining can be fun, it can also be quite stressful, so if your home is where friends and family will be getting together this holiday season, don’t feel like you have to do all of the work yourself. If a guest asks if he/she can do anything to help out, don’t feel like a bad host by letting them pitch in.
- Not only can holiday entertaining be stressful, it can also be quite expensive. If your guests offer to bring something, don’t be afraid to accept their offer.
- To keep costs down, serve guests buffet style. Suggest that everyone bring a food item and don’t be afraid to be specific as to what they should bring. Nothing is worse than a buffet table that has 10 bowls of potato or pasta salad to choose from and very little else.
- If the guests at your holiday get-together will be participating in a gift exchange, be sure that a monetary limit for gifts is in place well in advance and stick to the agreed upon limit.
Be Prepared
Unexpected guests are synonymous with the holiday season, so while doing your shopping be sure to buy a few extra gift cards and some small gifts for those who show up unexpectedly. These do not have to be expensive gifts. Small boxes of chocolates or inexpensive local wines are always good choices. Before the season is in full swing, wrap the gifts and fill out the cards with everything but the name of the recipient. When someone shows up unexpectedly, simply slip away during their visit, fill in their name on the card and present them with their gift.
During the holiday season it is also a good idea to have plenty of food and snack items on hand. Keep a good supply of crackers, mixed nuts, cookies and potato chips and other munchies in the cupboards and the fridge filled with things like a variety of cheeses, pickles, pates, olives, spreads and dips. These foods take only a minute to put into bowls or on platters to serve to guests.
Stay in Your Comfort Zone
With all of the confusion and preparations surrounding the holidays it is important to maintain some kind of normalcy. Take the time to do the things you enjoy. Have a relaxing bubble bath, go for a walk, head out to the gym or just spend time reading a good book.
Do not be afraid to say no to friends or family. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not up to attending a holiday function that you have been invited to, politely declining is perfectly fine.
Be a Responsible Host
Instead of providing guests with potent mixed drinks, make a punch that contains only a small amount of alcohol. If guests show up with their own alcohol, don`t hesitate to ask if they have a designated driver or suggest that if they drink you would prefer that they only have one or two.
Always be sure to have non-alcoholic drinks on hand for those who do not or choose not to drink alcohol.
