The Christmas season is fully upon us! Between attending endless parties, ticking everyone off the gift list, or dreading the excess family time, the holiday season seems to gets everyone’s panties in a bunch. It can be overwhelming to keep up with the demands of the holiday season, but this year I’m sticking to a 4 simple tips to keep the stress at bay.
- Take part in a gift exchange.
Gather a group of friends, family, or co-workers and organize a gift exchange. I’ve been in at least one every year, and it’s a great way to get everyone to take part in an easy and fairly inexpensive holiday activity.
- Minimize the Christmas waste.
A present looks great under the tree until Christmas day, when the wrapping, ribbons, and bows are forgotten on the living room floor. This year, I’m going to be a little more mindful of the amount of paper I use, from gift-wrapping to greeting cards. Using gift boxes that can be repurposed or sending e-holiday cards are good starting points to reduce that waste.
- Stick to a budget for presents and parties.
It’s easy to get sucked into the hoopla of gift giving and getting decked out for those glitzy holiday parties – but come January, you’ll be thankful that you stuck to a budget. Small, thoughtful gifts don’t have to be expensive or complicated. I’ve scoured Groupon for cool experiences and things to do in the city as gifts. And that little black dress? Change up the accessories or shoes to switch up your look instead of buying a whole new outfit.
- Do less, enjoy more.
Whether it’s minimizing your schedule or your Christmas cookie intake, it can be a daunting task to say no during a season of indulgence. Take care of yourself by saying no at least a few times – how many ugly Christmas sweater parties can a person really go to? Give yourself time to relax with a glass of wine or a good book in between the periods of craziness.
Photos by Christian Nambayan – http://christianambayan.com/
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