Organize + Energize: Easy Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time to spend with family and friends. Most often the holidays leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Get organized, plan ahead and prepare and you will reduce your stress this holiday season. How many of you feel like the holidays come and go so quickly that you don’t even get to enjoy them?
Think about everything you have to do this holiday season. There can always be a simpler way to accomplish a task.
Here are ways to reduce holiday stress:
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The holidays will only be stressful if you allow them to be. Stop running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Start writing your menus, your food shopping lists, gift lists, and anything else you are responsible for this time of year. Don’t save everything for the last minute.
Utilize A Calendar
Write everything down so you don't forget important appointments. Don’t forget to schedule your workouts and shopping trips. Make an appointment to do your laundry, ironing and housework. Clear the mental clutter and use a calendar.
Clear the Mental Clutter
Mental clutter and disorganization are distractions. Mental clutter will cause stress, anxiety, and a feeling of overwhelm. Get everything out of your head and onto paper or into your electronics. Clear the mental clutter and you will feel like a weight has been lifted.
Start Writing Shopping Lists
Try to limit trips to the market to once a week. Do you really want to be stuck in traffic this time of year? Make one trip to the market; reduce your stress, save time, money, and gas.
Break Up Tasks
Don't try to tackle everything all at once. Keep daily to-do lists vs. weekly to-do lists. A weekly to-do list will look very overwhelming. When people are overwhelmed they tend to shut down and nothing gets done.
Prepare
If you are having overnight guests, get your home ready now. Declutter and organize high traffic areas and guest rooms. If you are baking or cooking, purchase what you can for food and baking. Also, it’s not too early to write out your holiday cards. It’s one less thing you have to do a few weeks before the holiday.
Declutter Your Home
You want to feel at peace, relaxed, and comfortable in your home. Declutter and reduce your stress level. Working with your hands for at least 10 minutes will help clear the mind. Even if you aren’t having company this holiday, declutter, organize and enjoy your home this holiday season.
It’s OK to Say No
If you feel stressed by all of the invites coming your way, just say no. Don’t feel obligated to go to every event. Choose events that mean the most to you and go and have a great time. If you are on the fence about an event and you know it’s just going to stress you out, just say no.
Don't Forget to Take Care of Yourself
Take an exercise class or go for a silent walk with no music. After you do this, you will feel rejuvenated; you will see things clearer and will be more mindful!
Around the holidays, are you making things more complicated than they need to be? Make a plan to simplify and streamline. Trying a few of these tips will reduce your stress and allow you to focus on the more important things in your life. Being organized will give you more free time to enjoy and focus on the events of the season.
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD,Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. on http://www.talkstreamradio.com.
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