5 Stress Relief Tips To Help You Avoid Holiday Burnout

The festive season is almost upon us and for many people, stress depression and anxiety can make this period anything but peaceful. Here's 5 Stress reieving tips to help you keep it together during the holidays:

* Stay calm and in control. The holidays are so exciting! Having family over, Christmas decorations, lights, presents and making merry! As the holiday gets closer, expectations amplify as to how the holiday could be only for them to be frustrated when the holidays arrive. So, try not to place high expectations on how the holiday will pass. Steadfastly plan for the worst and remember that humans can react eratically and surprisingly. Also, life can bowl us the odd curve ball, especially when we least want it, so just have a "what will be will be" position and hopefully, the holidays will be all right. Avoiding high hopes means you won't become stressed out or in a sweat should plans go pear-shaped.

* Think ahead. Make a meticulous plan for each task you need to do. Be thorough and try to do as much in advance as possible. The more you can get done before the holidays the less stressful the season will be. Include shopping, decorations, wrapping, meal preparation, sending cards, visiting family, and a timetable for the big day. This will help you get everything worked out so you'll get more done and you'll feel less stressed. Make checklists so you can mark progress as you go. Another great tip is to have a backup plan in case things don't go swimmingly.

* Delegate. There's a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure happy holidays. The Christmas dinner alone really can be hard work for the cook! Taking too much on leads to stress burnout so make sure family and guests alike share the workload. Share the workload by dividing chores amongst the whole family and get kids involved too. It's true - many hands make light work - and they also reduce stress at the same time.

* Despite the holidays being a time for enjoying the company of family, having the family over can be a miserable ordeal. Not all families get along, and stress levels can soar at get-togethers. If you have family members who are disillusioned, ill-humored, bloody-minded, sulky - the miserable wretches who will ruin the party, then say "no!" and don't invite them. The holidays are about joy and happiness, so inviting people who will spoil the occasion isn't on. Guilty feelings can lead to inviting someone around against your better judgement. Your only duty is to your immediate family - your spouse and your children - not to any other family members. If your family share the spirit of goodwill, fine, but if you know arguing and fighting will result, then make everyone's day by not having stress present on your guest list.

* Make a financial plan and apply it rigidly. It's really tempting to spend money during the holidays and many people will borrow large amounts of money doing so. The debt then becomes a ball and chain after the holidays have ended. You don't need to buy people expensive gifts and it isn't necessary to borrow lots of money to impress people. The Internet is a tremendous source for finding creative and imaginative gifts that will give the receiver a highly valued special surprise because it shows you've made a real effort. Debt is to stress the fuel that keeps it ongoing and you can pay a heavy price for impressing people with gifts. Cut your cloth to fit and you will alleviate stress, not just over the holidays but for many months after.

Have a happy stress-free holiday!

Chris Green.

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