As the holidays approach quickly, many people are put into panic mode. The fact is that holidays can be the most stressful time of the year, especially if you are trying to fit in work, family, and friends to your already hectic lifestyle. However, if you want to get through the holidays without feeling like your home and your world is falling apart, consider the following ideas:
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead for the holidays is hard, but it will be even harder if you have too many things to do. If you have any non-related holiday things to take care of, such as getting the oil changed in your vehicle, get these things done ahead of time. You can also plan to get holiday chores done, such as making out Christmas cards, by taking them with you and doing them when you are waiting for an appointment.
Dishes Build-Up
You may enjoy baking and making special meals during the holidays, but the build-up of dishes can quickly get out of hand if you don’t stay on top of it. Instead of getting overwhelmed with dirty dishes, take control of it by using disposable plates, bowls, and utensils when possible this year. There are a wide variety of holiday-themed disposable dishes that will make your home look festive and you don’t have to worry about cleaning them. Or if you have time while you’re waiting for something to come out of the oven, use that time to take care of the dishes you just used.
Divide and Conquer
While you may feel like that you have to do everything to make the holidays perfect for your family, the holidays are the time to divide and conquer the housework. Even young children can be put in charge of some tasks, such as sorting laundry or dusting. The truth is that your family may complain, but they will appreciate the fact that it allows you to spend more time with them.
Simplify Your Shopping
While most people believe holiday shopping has gotten out of hand, not many choose to do something about it. Whether you limit your gifting to just three or four gifts each or you choose one larger gift for each person, by simplifying your gift giving, you are going to eliminate a lot of your stress over the holidays. Get your family in on your plans so that no one is surprised and everyone knows what to expect. Even if you spend the same amount of money, by limiting the amount of gifts, you are going to save a lot of stress and time over the holiday season.
