As we prepare for an exciting and opportunity-filled new year, it?s important to leave this one feeling really good. As a result, no Personal Growth path would be complete without having the tools to plan ahead and be proactive in order to beat that holiday stress that can crop up during the holidays.
Here are our Top 5 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress:
1. Take care of yourself first. Especially around the holidays, most of us are inclined to be selfless: buying things for other people, attending their parties, having them over, and generally just spreading ourselves a bit too thin.
Instead, take some time for yourself. If you like to run in the mornings, don?t let that slide. If you need some alone time or meditation time, schedule it in. In short, devote at least some time during the holidays to doing what do you want to do.
Most importantly, buy yourself a gift.
2. Plan ahead. Set a budget. Even if it?s small, it helps to have things laid out on paper in front of you. This should include what will you get and in the case of presents, for whom, and of course a timeline for spending.
3. Follow that plan. The most stress comes from deviation from your plan or budget, or worse, when you don?t have one at all.
Following a plan is the perfect way to set yourself up for a financially secure 2010, too.
4. Have Fun. Do everything you can to prevent stress from taking over. Sit with friends and family over eggnog and cookies. Have a snowball fight. Watch your child?s face light up when he opens a present. Smile, and laugh some more.
5. Give to someone in need. The most powerful possible tool for alleviating holiday stress is to help others. Check out:
http://www.volunteermatch.org
You can enter in your city/town and a keyword(s) having to do with the area in which you?d like to volunteer or give back, and the service will do a search and offer numerous options.
Finally, here?s another good resource with seven unique tips for relieving holiday stress:
http://bit.ly/606Lzl
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