Have you ever wondered how some people tend to sail through the holiday season when all you see before you is stormy seas?
Remember, no matter what your plans, the holidays do not automatically take away feelings of aloneness, sadness, frustration, anger, and fear. Tinsel is not the cure for what ails you, but with a little planning, some organisation, and a “chin up” attitude, we can make it.
The biggest stressors during the holiday period tend to be relationships, finances and the physical demands the season can bring. With the added expenses of gifts, travel, food and entertainment, the holidays can put a strain on your budget. To help get you through, try these tips suggested by the Mayo Clinic:
• Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be “Better Homes and Gardens” perfect. Families change and, along with that, comes different traditions and rituals. Don’t be adverse to using modern technologies like email or social networking to bring the family together.
• Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to it. Consider homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
• 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. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
• Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard. Try to get plenty of sleep.
• The pain of losing a loved one is always acute during the holidays. Acknowledge when you feel sad, especially if someone close to you has passed away recently or you will be away from your family. There is nothing wrong in taking the time to cry. And there is nothing wrong with getting extra help by talking to someone about how you feel.
