Holiday Stress Busters
Posted by fheenix33 on December 14, 2009
The Holiday season is officially here. Amidst the cheer, cookies, decorating, gift wrapping, and parties lingers the dreaded Holiday stress. No matter how prepared you are, it sneaks up on you. You forgot a gift for someone. You ran out of wrapping paper. Unexpected guests show up. You’ve encountered cranky shoppers at a store. It happens to us all. Over the years I’ve established a few Holiday stress busters that work:
1. There is no such thing as the perfect Holiday. If you are aiming for perfection, it’s time to just let go. You are only setting yourself up for failure as well as putting valuable energy into something pointless. Something, or a few things, won’t go as planned. If you don’t believe me, watch the Griswold’s Family Christmas.
2. There will always be those less favorable family members present during a Holiday gathering. There is no way to avoid them. From the Mother-in-Law who criticizes everything to the Great Aunt who never fails to discuss her bowel movements at the dinner table. My solution is the ol’ Holiday stand-by…eat, drink and be merry. Nothing increases tolerance like a glass of happy punch and a few wads of raw cookie dough.
3. Practice the poker face. This will come in handy during those awkward moments when you have to unwrap a gift in front of everyone. You know what I’m talking about. You peel the paper off and make your way past the 20 layers of decade old tissue paper to find a bright pink sweatshirt with unicorns on it. You’re Great Aunt meant well, but someone forget to tell her that you did away with your unicorn obsession 25 years ago.
4. Don’t be afraid to buy gift cards. You’re Mother-in-Law might sneer and accuse you of being lazy, but ignore her. Opting for gift cards will ease the stress of trying to buy the perfect gift for your picky 14 year old Nephew or your Uncle Hank who is a hypochondriac and is allergic to every material, fabric and food out there.
5. Most of all, remember to just go with the flow. Don’t fight it. Very little about the Holiday season goes as planned and you will wear yourself trying to fight the laws of nature. Go with the flow. Have fun. Remember that the Holiday season comes just once a year. You will get through it. And, in extreme cases, if it gets too bad, grab your happy punch and go hide in the closet for a few minutes.
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