December 17, 2008

Sanity-saving strategies to ease holiday stress

By Lisa M. Petsche

The holiday season is a hectic time for many of us, due to the many preparations and festivities involved. Instead of experiencing joy, we often end up feeling stressed, disappointed and exhausted.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Follow these suggestions to keep stress manageable and the holidays meaningful.

Gifts
• Reconsider the number of people you buy for as well as the number of gifts you give each of them. If you have a large family, suggest a gift pool, or buy family gifts—such as a game members can play together—rather than individual ones.
• Consider mail order shopping and, if finances allow, pay the extra cost for gift wrapping.
• If you’ll be doing your own wrapping, choose decorative gift bags (available in every imaginable size) and boxes so you don’t have to wrestle with rolls of paper or tape. Dispense with frills like ribbon and bows.
• To save even more time and eliminate having to make returns, purchase gift certificates—for a major department store or bookstore chain, for example.

Decorating
• Go easy on the decorating unless you really enjoy it; remember, you have to collect and pack away everything later. Be selective, or else invite family members over for a decorating party (and, later, an un-decorating one).

Entertaining
• If finances allow, arrange for a housecleaning in order to save precious time and energy. Most domestic service agencies offer one-time cleanings.
• If you wish to serve a meal, keep the menu simple. Consider preparing dishes ahead of time and freezing them. If you’re not willing and able to cook or bake, buy prepared food from your local deli or bakery. A potluck dinner is another sanity-saving idea.
• Enlist help with cleanup afterwards, especially if you don’t own a dishwasher.
• If the prospect of having dinner guests is too stressful, invite friends or relatives for dessert and coffee in the afternoon or evening.

Further tips
• Set realistic expectations, and be prepared to alter traditions. Keep it simple, and let relatives and friends know your wishes and limitations. Decide what is personally most important about the holidays, focus on it and forget the rest.
• Set a budget for holiday-related expenses and stick to it.
• Whatever holiday-related tasks you decide to take on, ask for help and delegate responsibilities. Make plans and start necessary preparations well in advance. Devise lists to stay organized, and keep them handy.
• Space out activities as much as possible, scheduling quiet days in between busy ones.
• Look after your health: get adequate rest, eat nutritiously, don’t over-indulge in alcohol or holiday foods and try to fit in some exercise.
• Take responsibility for your well-being by doing something nice for yourself. Some people treat themselves to a special gift or plan something to look forward to after the holidays are over.

Lisa M. Petsche is a mother of three, a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in family life.