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hough it is a wonderful time of the year, it can also become very stressful. In addition to our usual everyday activities, we now have to prepare for the holidays which include extra running here and there, and more things to do. This of course brings on stress making us feel tired, unhappy and difficult to enjoy the season. So what can you do to make holiday preparation easier and more enjoyable? Here are three important ways to keep your stress at a minimum.
Firstly, a good way to get started is to organize yourself. Studies have shown that organization reduces levels of stress. Therefore, try making a list of things such as what you plan on cooking, presents or gift ideas, who you’re inviting, and/or who you want to send cards to. This makes it easier to remember what you need to do and have done already. Keep your list handy so if something else comes to mind you can write it down and get it out of your head.
Secondly, think about how often you aim for perfection during the holidays. How many of you search to find the “perfect” gift or are thinking of the “perfect” dinner to make. You may not think of perfection as stressful, but it is, in fact it creates stress. Nothing is perfect so we do we chase after it? In a future post I will get into perfection a bit more, but for now just remember that looking for perfection is tiring because you will constantly be searching for it, and ultimately will never find it....because it doesn't exist. And if this is your focus then you are also probably forgetting what the holidays are really about and probably not enjoying them to the fullest. So remind yourself and instead of getting caught up in things being perfect, strive for happiness and inner peace, it’s much easier to obtain and it’s more realistic.
Lastly, be conscious of your pace. Many times we are doing one thing and thinking of a million other things to do and can become overwhelmed. It’s important to focus on one thing at a time and keep yourself in the moment. Consider this, the more time and energy you spend on stressing and worrying about what still needs to be done, the less you will actually get done. Therefore, when you stay calm and focused, you get much more accomplished.
My Thought:
Make sure you are taking care of yourself. Constantly being on the run is neither helpful nor healthy. Take a break, take time to breath, and make time to sit and eat a healthy fulfilling meal!
