holiday stress

There’s never a holiday season that goes by when you don’t want to do it bigger, better, and more exciting than before. After all, it’s just boring to do the same old thing year after year, and having bigger celebrations just makes logical sense. This might be true, but it also means that you’ll be scrambling around the second half of the calendar year just trying to meet all the lofty goals you set for yourself. Or, on the other hand, you might have just put off shopping until it became a crisis, and you’re worried about getting it all done.

In general, stress around the holidays comes from a lack of time, the need to give good gifts, money problems, and impossible plans. So, when it comes to a lack of time, there is a simple solution: start early. This doesn’t mean December 23rd. No, start even earlier, like before October! By the time you hit Halloween, you’ll have to worry about Thanksgiving, decorating the house, booking those plane tickets, planning all the events and items for that special dinner, passing finals, and doing all the festivities that come with the holidays, like Christmas concerts or Christmas caroling.

Another important thing to do to avoid stress around the holidays is to get yourself organized. Not unlike Santa, you might want to make a list of people you have to give gifts to. Nothing’s worse than getting near the holiday and realizing you’re not sure who you’ve got gifts for and where their gifts might be hiding. Also, thinking ahead will give you the opportunity to get decent gifts for people. Nothing says “I can’t plan” like a special red-and-white striped Christmas tie.

reduce-stress-holiday

When considering how to avoid stress around the holidays, you can’t forget the possibility of monetary stress. How can you reconcile all the spending you’re doing with the fact that you just don’t have that kind of money in your checking account right now? One thing to do is not overextend yourself, because you’re bound to feel stressed if you go ahead and charge stuff you know you won’t be able to pay. Instead of enjoying the holidays, you’ll be constantly worried about how you’re going to pay for that new game console or Abercrombie and Fitch scarf.

In fact, for most people, it’s the thought that counts. A small gift––like a book or music CD that you know the person will like––can go even farther than an expensive gift, because it shows that you really thought about the gift. Anyone with a lot of money can just go out and buy something expensive, but only people who really know you can get you the exact thing you didn’t even know you wanted.

Finally, don’t pressure yourself so much. The easiest way to avoid stress around the holidays is to expect that not everything will go according to plan, and you can still have a good time if you just enjoy the company of your loved ones.

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