Limit Your List to Avoid Holiday Stress
By Brandi Goodman
The stress of the holidays begins before Halloween arrives. This is especially true for those with children who have to spend money on costumes right before thinking about the cost of a Thanksgiving meal and then Christmas gifts. You may find your to-do list growing far too long and completely stressing you out. Limit your list this year to avoid holiday stress and improve your mental well-being.
Say No This Season
You may find yourself saying yes a lot throughout the holiday months. You agree to go to everyone's parties and may even get talked into helping out with food, decorations, or set-up. Learn to say no this season so you don't become overwhelmed with events and things to do. Friends should understand if you have to turn their party down to get your own tasks completed.
Focus on Favorites
Don't try to create the perfectly decorated home or the perfect recipes. Just focus on your favorites. What part of the holidays do you enjoy the most? Limit your time and energy to the things you actually like and want to do. You can still have a merry Christmas without decorating and you can have a happy Halloween with nothing more than carving one pumpkin to set outside.
Stick to a Budget
One part of your list may involve gifts. Don't go overboard and think you have to get something expensive for everyone. Set a budget and stick to it so the stress of money to spend doesn't eat at you. You don't have to buy all the time either. You can create some homemade gifts that may cost a lot less but mean a lot more.
Get Your Sleep
Your list should not be so long that it's cutting into your sleep time. Get your sleep each night so you are well rested and ready for each day. It will help you to feel less stressed to begin with so your to-do list isn't so overwhelming. If you end up missing something by the end, oh well. It's not the end of the world.
Limiting your list will help you to avoid some of the stress that often comes with the holidays. It's a great way to still celebrate yet not feel like you have to go overboard. There's still plenty to do and enjoy without you having tasks upon tasks to complete.
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