Countdown to T-Day: 5; Countdown to Black Friday: 6; etc., etc.!
We all feel it coming- the change in the weather, a glance at the short calendar, and decorated mall parking lots: the Holiday Season is upon us!
STOP! You began feeling stressed just reading the sentence above, didn’t you?! Let’s see if we can turn this year’s holidays into fun and positive memories for you and your family. Isn’t that the point, after all?
Today, take a few minutes to plan, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. We all know that when we stop and plan everything, even the unexpected goes more smoothly. So grab your favorite antioxidant beverage (coffee, tea, dark cocoa) and let’s get started!
1. Write down what your dream holidays would be like- what activities, where, with who?
2. What ruined past holidays? Write that down also. What could have prevented those ‘disasters’?
3. Decide on your holiday budget- write down how much for gifts for who, for travel, and for entertaining and decorations.
4. Make your schedule- when to shop, when to make travel arrangements, when to cook. Allow more time for each than you think you’ll need.
5. Use the internet and newspaper ads to plan your shopping, like Black Friday 2007.
6. As you work your plan, modify where needed to accomplish your goals.
7. Be diligent with your workouts and nutrition- not only will you limit holiday weight gain but exercise relieves stress!
8. Schedule “relax” times.
9. As each holiday is finished, evaluate where your plan succeeded, and where it fell short. Write it down and save for next year in a place where you’ll find it (in your Palm for next November or packed in your box of decorations, for instance.)
If you plan your holiday work and work your plan while keeping up healthy habits, this will be your best holiday season ever!
