De-Stressing for the Holidays
Tips for minimizing stress in the office and at home during the holidays.

By Sally Pfeffer

The holidays bring together all the things that are good in our lives—family, friends, the spirit of giving, a celebration of blessings and new beginnings.

It’s a time for parties, shopping, baking, eating and inspired resolutions. With all this holiday wonder happening around us, is it any wonder that many of us experience sensory overload and wig out? All that we should be enjoying turns into a task to be checked off a list.

This year it can be different. Here are some tips for minimizing stress on the home front and in the office this holiday season. Follow them and you’ll be able to accomplish  what you need to get done—without expletives and with a glad heart.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
You can’t do everything you think you’re going to do. Make two lists. Label one “Things I Really, Really Want/Need To Do.” Label the other “Things I Should Do (But Don’t Really Want To Do).” Make sure to include parties, activities and gift ideas.
Now throw away your lists of “shoulds.” If you really don’t need or want to do these activities, don’t. Lose that list and don’t look back.

Don’t Overindulge
Remind yourself how good it feels not to be bulging, hungover or strung out on caffeine. If you find yourself saying, “Just one more…,” just STOP! If you’re justifying the indulgence, you probably are about to cross the line, or already have.

Be Realistic
There are some issues, circumstances and situations that are just plain out of your control. Packages get lost in the mail. Cookies burn. Children get overtired (so do adults). And people get snowed in.

In these situations, just go with the flow. Just let it all happen. Some of the best holiday memories are made when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Delegate
Think of tasks other people can do for you. Let your kids write out holiday cards and envelopes. Encourage co-workers to get involved in planning the office holiday party so that it doesn’t fall on the shoulders of one individual. Let your shopping come to you. Do all the catalog shopping you can. Use the Internet as your personal shopper. Have gifts shipped directly to faraway recipients.

Simplify
If your favorite part of holiday baking is decorating the cookies rather than actually baking them, buy tubes of sugar cookie dough to roll, cut out and bake. That way you can get to the fun part of the process sooner.

Make Time for Others
This might sound like you’re making more work for yourself, but another way to alleviate your stress is to alleviate someone else’s.

• Bring gift-wrapping supplies to work and set up a “wrap” session in your lunchroom. Set up a team of volunteers to help you wrap gifts by co-workers during the lunch hour.
• If you’re the boss, give everyone an extra long lunch hour to get some serious shopping done.
• Bring in a little warmth and relaxation in the form of instant hot chocolate, whipped cream and peppermint sticks for stirrers.

Here’s to a happy—and more stress-free—holiday season.

Sally Pfeffer is a principal in HH&S Advertising, Inc., a full-service public relations/marketing and event planning company. She can be reached at (913) 685-4017.