Sometimes, the holidays seem more like a juggling act and less like a time of celebration. Here are some more tips to help balance out your holiday season and keep stress levels to a minimum.
- Stick to cash. According to the American Psychological Association, more than sixty percent of Americans say that lack of money is their biggest holiday stress. Leave your credit cards at home so you’ll be more aware of your spending — and less likely to spend money you don’t have.
- Practice your comebacks. If you always have to face the same questions from family and friends, prepare a response. Better yet, turn the response back on them. Be curious instead of furious — ask them to explain WHY they’re asking and you put the attention back on them.
- Keep a hold on your sense of humor. Laugh at things, rather than get angry or upset. If somebody spills a drink or breaks a favorite ornament, just smile and forgive them. Aren’t the people more important than the inanimate objects?
- Make your travel plans early. The earlier you book, the less expensive your tickets will be. If you must wait for the last minute, surf the web for the best deals. You can get some amazing prices on last-minute sales if you have the patience to surf around.
- If you are traveling for the holidays, ship ahead. Your gifts will arrive and you won’t have to worry about carrying them through security.
- Skip the formal party at your house and invite friends to a casual open house. Lay out snacks and ask people to drop in during a certain window. You don’t have to worry about laying out a huge meal or dealing with an influx of people at once — you’ll have time to spend with each arrival. Ask friends to bring a dish to the party and you’ll have a fresh influx of food all day long.