How to keep the Holiday Spirit

Greetings:

I thought we should do a little review about how to keep the holiday spirit.

Although the holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends, they can also be a very stressful time. But they don’t have to be. With just a little planning the holidays can be jolly and festive.

Planning helps to decrease the stress. Following the plan guarantees that the holidays will be a special time with family and friends without the feeling of pressure. Decide now what activities you want to participate in. Keep in mind that the holidays are not something you do instead of your regular routine they are in addition to your already loaded schedule. Be strategic about what you will and won’t do. You don’t have to go to every event, select only the ones you want to participate in, say no to the rest, and leave room to enjoy the season.

Create a budget for how much you will spend and stick to it. Make a commitment not to use credit cards or at least set yourself a limit. It is nice to have reminders of the holidays, but bills aren’t necessary the kind of reminders you need. Limit your gift list and come up with creative gift giving ideas. Your friends and family may decide to pick names and buy a gift only for the person selected. Homemade gifts provide a way to save money and give gifts that aren’t costly but will be priceless with love and sentiment.

Don’t feel like you have to do everything. The holidays are a great time to practice asking for help. Instead of preparing the big dinner yourself, ask friends and family to bring one of their favorite dishes to share. To make holiday gift giving easier friends and I select several food items to make. We take one weekend and create large batches of our treats, package them up and we have our gift giving taken care of and I have spent quality time with my friends. Another great idea that I have done is hired help. Having someone to come in and clean before the event or even help with the parties and dinners can be an amazing stress eliminator. I have also have had my meals catered and had flowers and decorations delivered.

Whatever I can do to make enjoying myself a priority I do. It’s no fun for anyone if the hostess is preoccupied with doing all the work. By planning ahead, doing a little less, and enlisting the help of others, everyone can have a peaceful and enjoyable holiday.

Tis the season to enjoy the holidays by not overdoing it and planning ahead. Make enjoying yourself a priority. By planning ahead and asking for help, the holidays can be an enjoyable time for everyone.

To this today:


Start your plan for your holiday season. Check your gift list, decide which activities you will and won’t attend and how you can make the event you host less stressful. By creating a plan and working your plan, you can create a holiday season that will be remembered for years to come.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle