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Learn to say no – Don’t over schedule yourself through the holidays. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Forcing yourself to go will only ensure that you don’t enjoy the event you’re attending.
- Plan ahead – Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That’ll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients or the hassle of trying to find something for dinner.
- Cut the cleaning frenzy – What is the point of cleaning the house spic-n-span when a house full of people will only trash it again? Focus on the kitchen and main rooms of the house and a “straighten-up” will work on the personal rooms. Save the deep cleaning for after the holiday mayhem.
- Enjoy your own – Discover the joy of planning an evening, here and there, to snuggle up under a blanket, while enjoying hot chocolate and the Christmas tree with your family, or pop an old Christmas classic into the DVD player. Who doesn’t want to watch the Grinch?
- Don’t abandon healthy habits – Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Don’t go on a month-long celebration. Try to stock up on healthy choices in between. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on the high calorie/high carbohydrate foods. Don’t skip meals if you’ve overindulged the day before. Eat protein and a serving of vegetables or fruit at every meal and snack. Drink a lot of water to help detoxify your body. Remember that Christmas is only a day — you don’t need to go on a month-long celebration.
- Take time for you – Don’t be afraid to delegate. Remember that this is supposed to be a time of joy — for you as well as your family. Instead of taking everything on yourself, ask your husband to run errands and the kids to clean or help decorate. Set aside 15 or so a day to sit down, turn on some holiday music and just relax. ‘Tis the season…’
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