Christmas is a wonderful time of year. At this time of year the air is thick with anticipation and the aroma of treats baking. The lights that people decorate their homes with make the world seem to be a happier place. You actually see more people smiling and all of a sudden even strangers will tell you to have a nice day. For most adults that wonderful glow of the holiday spirit lasts just long enough for "It's a Wonderful Life" to be over and then reality hits them over the head.
The majority of people will begin to suffer from holiday stress right after they finish their Thanksgiving meal. What causes all of this stress? People pressuring themselves to be a great hostess, and decorate the house perfectly, and throw a great party, and buy gifts for everyone on their list, and keep up with all of the holiday traditions they have participated in every year. The stress of trying to have a perfect Christmas makes the majority of people miserable.
Stop some of the insanity and reduce a lot of your stress by doing some of the following:
i) Set a realistic budget on how much money you can afford to spend this year on gifts, the parties, the clothes, and all things concerning the holiday. This budget will allow you to keep the stress of overspending out of your holiday.
ii) Do not attempt to purchase gifts for everyone that you know or for everyone that sends you a gift. If you receive a gift from someone that you did not purchase a gift for say "thank you." That is all that is required of you.
iii) Try to buy your children one item that is on their list and make the rest of their gifts things you select. If you give children too many gifts on the big day they do not truly appreciate or enjoy playing with the majority of them.
iv) It is not mandatory that your home be decorated like one from Better Homes and Gardens. Be realistic with the decorations you put up. If it takes you more than one day to decorate you may just be going overboard.
v) It is perfectly proper to throw a holiday gathering and tell the guests to bring a dish of food. Pot luck parties are less stressful and they cost much less to throw. Your friends will still attend and they will more than likely have a better time.
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