5 Ways to Avoid Stress During the Holidays

The holidays are meant to be a delightful time filled with family and friends, parties, and gift giving. None of those things just magically happen. Someone has to meticulously cook the meals, purchase all of those gifts, and prepare the house for all of those out of town relatives. If you don’t get out ahead of these tasks, they can become overwhelming. Follow these steps to avoid all of that holiday stress.

• Make a list, check it twice. A jolly bearded man in a red suit delivers BILLIONS of presents across the entire world in a single night. Do you know how he accomplishes this? First and foremost, he makes a list. Write down everything you need to accomplish. Note everyone in your family and the gifts you wish to purchase. Plot out your meals and jot down a grocery list. Make a checklist for all of the chores that need to be done before your family invades your house. Being organized helps you avoid any slipups. Keeping a list in your head is a sure-fire way to let some things slip through the cracks. And honestly, there are few things more satisfying than the feeling of accomplishment you receive when you mark something off that to do list.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone gets to enjoy in the holiday festivities so let them have a hand in preparing. There are few things more delightful than a family working together in the kitchen to prepare a meal. Not only will it take some of the work off of you, it’s an opportunity to bond and to share family traditions.
• Get ahead of it. We’re staring Christmas right in the eye with just a few weeks left. The closer we get, the higher the stress levels. It may be too late this year but save yourself some of the last minute headache next year and purchase your gifts early. Make a habit of jotting down notes of things your family might want as the year passes so that you won’t be scrambling to find that perfect gift on December 24th.
• The internet is your friend. There are few things more chaotic and stressful than a trip to the local mall during the Christmas season. For those of you in the Birmingham area, you know that it’s just about impossible to find a place to park at The Summit when the calendar flips to December. We are lucky to live in a time of Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, Shipt, and many other convenient home shopping options. If you’ve listened and heard those gift wishes throughout the year, it’s as simple as clicking a button. Gifts delivered right to your front door! The Birmingham based company Shipt can help you avoid the hassle of grocery shopping as well. They have an easy-to-use app that puts grocery shopping at your fingertips.

The holidays can be stressful to say the least. Don’t let them creep up on you. All of the stress can be easily avoided if you plan ahead and organize your tasks. What steps do you take to avoid the holiday anxiety? Tell us in the comments below!