Fall 2008
Planning the Perfect Holiday Season
Proper holiday planning and preparation are the keys to balancing the joys of the season with the stressors of the season. Remember the old adage: “less is more.” This holds true for the holiday season as well.
- Don’t overbook your social calendar. Decide ahead of time which parties you will attend. If you are feeling especially stressed, you may even have to skip out of the party early.
- Set a gift-giving budget and stick to it. Shop early and set a deadline for yourself. Even if you don’t like to shop online, you can do your browsing and comparison-shopping online. Then, when you get to the store, you will know exactly what you want.
- Simplify your recipes and choose healthy, yet still delicious, alternatives. Cook ahead of time and freeze as many dishes as possible. Solicit friends and family to bring a dish.
- Say “yes.” Don’t try to do it all yourself. If someone volunteers to set the table or serve the drinks, accept.
- Say “no.” Remove the guilt. You have a right to turn down a party invitation or to decline baking cookies for the office party. This won’t make you the scrooge of the season; in fact, it might make you the jolliest soul around.
- Take care of yourself. Nothing is worse than being sick during the holiday season and missing out on all of the festivities. Be sure to get enough sleep, try to squeeze in some exercise and maintain your diet as much as possible. But, be willing to cut yourself some slack. If you overindulge one day, make up for it the next.
Give yourself a holiday this season and savor those precious moments with family and friends.
Read on for more tips on how to take care of yourself this holiday season: