Avoid Holiday Stress

This post may be a bit  late; but the holiday season isn't over yet so just indulge me.  ;)  For most people, the holidays include too much time fighting traffic, overloading credit cards and entertaining relatives.brand-new, beautifully wrapped. It's the season when you're expected to cram office parties, shopping, and family gatherings into your already busy life. In short, the holidays mean stress. With the holidays can come feelings of depression and stress as a result of people's high expectations about the season. The holidays bring out the blahs in many people, especially those who recently lost a loved one or are separated from their children. It can be brought on by the stresses of going over-budget on gifts, and trying to complete all the tasks we have added to our schedules because of the holiday.
But don't despair: It's not too late to put a little sanity back into the season. Here are some tips to help you cope with -- or even avoid -- holiday stress.

1. Stay out of holiday debt. Set a budget and stick to it. Expensive gifts won't guarantee a happy holiday.

2. Make a shopping list and check it twice. Staying organized will help you avoid any oversights or last-minute panic. As a bonus, you'll be less likely to make any impulse purchases that you can't really afford.

3. Avoid a relative meltdown. Accept family members for the way they are. They aren't about to change just because it's the holidays. If the worst fights tend to happen at the dining room table, consider having your holiday meal at a nice restaurant where everyone is more likely to be on their best behavior.

4. Go easy on alcohol. Too much alcohol will only add to your stress. You may say or do things that you'll later regret, and you're bound to feel lousy the next day. Find a recipe for a non-alcoholic beverage for your holiday gathering.

5. Keep moving. Exercise is a good stress buster.

6. Eat well and be merry. Can't resist holiday goodies? Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to offset the effects of sugar, alcohol, caffeine and , lechon, turkey with all the trimmings.

7. Delegate chores and responsibilities. No one has time to do everything, but almost everyone has time to do something.

8. Take a moment to appreciate the simple things.



Merry  Christmas, friends!!!