How many of us have spurred ourselves on through yet another late night, huge deal or conference call with the encouraging thought, “The holidays are just a few months away!”? We spend all year eagerly anticipating the holiday season and the chance to relax, unwind and reconnect with family and friends. But ironically, as the end of the year approaches, many working adults feel increasingly tense, drained or down.
If you can relate, don’t worry. You’re not alone. While work stress might abate during the holidays, the festive season brings its own set of anxieties. The good news is that by planning a little bit ahead, you can keep your holidays stress-free and fun – the way they’re meant to be!
Wallet Woes
Endless dinner parties and gift-giving can take their toll on your wallet. No one wants to start the New Year out of pocket, so make sure you do some careful financial planning before the festive season starts.
Let’s start by establishing an overall budget for the holidays. Next, make a list of all the people you’re planning to give presents to, as well as a list of all the dinner parties you’ll be attending. Work out how much you’re willing to spend on each gift or event, and stick to it religiously. If you’re worried that your friends and family will be disappointed, think again. People always appreciate a thoughtful gift more than an expensive one. When you’re working within a budget, you’re forced to think really hard about what the recipient wants and needs, making for better gifts!
Stress-Free Shopping
It’s not just the price of presents that gives us a headache around holiday time. The act of gift shopping can itself be a huge source of anxiety, since no one likes standing around in hour-long queues or fighting with a hundred other last-minute shoppers for that season’s must-have toy. Here are our top 3 tips for a fuss-free and enjoyable shopping experience.
- Shop early. If you know your kid wants an action figure from that year’s hit TV show, get it the moment you see it on shelves. If your wife wants a limited-edition perfume, pre-order it if you can. Stocks run out in the blink of an eye at this time of the year, so act quickly to save some hustle.
- Buy online. The Internet offers a larger selection of gifts than even the most sprawling department store. Best of all, you don’t need to rush down to the store with hordes of people. Just sit at home and wait for the delivery man to arrive.
- Check store and mall opening times. Nothing is worse than hurrying down to the mall the day before the holiday, only to find out that everything closed an hour ago!
Avoid Burn-Out
Partying is harder work than most people realize. Rich food, lots of alcohol and late nights can really push the body to its limits. If you want to avoid partying burn-out, prioritize. Make sure your calendar isn’t packed wall-to-wall with parties by leaving yourself a minimum of one rest day in between social events. Sure, you’ll have to give certain gatherings a miss (and remember to send them a polite apologies, with promises to make up for it the next year) – but your health and well-being are worth it.
Holidays are made to be cherished and enjoyed, so plan ahead to make sure you can do just that!
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