Working smart: How to Stay Sane During the Holidays

 

If you are juggling career and real life, how can you aim for happy holiday merry-making without crazy-making?

 What’s your favorite holiday? For many, the winter holiday season (loosely including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day) is the highlight of the entire calendar year. This joyous season brings fun foods, family gatherings, friendly festivities and many other bounteous blessings.

 On the other hand, the holiday season may also be a supreme source of stress for many. In fact, every blessing of the holidays may also carry a frenetic flip side. While some folks may celebrate the season in sweet bliss and merriment, others may become agitated, over-scheduled, frustrated or even depressed.

 

How can the holiday season be restored to a time of love, joy and peace?

 Here are seven tips for celebrating holiday seasons in sanity. Try these basic stress-busting steps may help to keep holiday celebrations manageable and enjoyable.

 

1. Plan ahead.

 Organization and advanced planning can do much to reduce holiday stress. Smart seasonal celebrants begin holiday gift shopping many months before the season begins. Online shoppers and mail-order catalog browsers have long understood the value and convenience of selecting and purchasing holiday gifts well in advance.

 Holiday greeting cards may be produced or purchased and addressed early in the fall (or even during the Thanksgiving weekend). A well-kept personal address list (with printable labels) can also be a significant holiday stress-buster. 

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

 

2. Decorate in a day.

 Holiday decorating may be enjoyable, but it can also be incredibly time-consuming and stressful. Why not set aside a single day to trim the tree and deck the halls for the holiday season?

 Some folks like to enlist the assistance of the whole family or a few fun friends, and make a holiday event out of seasonal decorating.

 Essentially, if seasonal decorating takes more than a day or two, then it may be time to trim the trimmings.

The same principle may be performed for holiday baking and cooking. Setting aside a single day in the kitchen and then freezing holiday treats can make this tradition fun, rather than frantic.

 

3. Manage the munching madness.

 In many homes, the fabulous food orgy begins with Halloween and runs clear through Valentine’s Day. Sweet and salty snacks, bounteous buffets and other waist-stretchers tempt holiday celebrants throughout the cold-weather months, in particular. Although the countless traditional and contemporary cuisine choices may be enjoyable, the departure from a regular diet may prove stressful to many.

 Managing a basic healthy diet is certainly a challenge during the holidays, but this contributes greatly to the semblance of needed sanity. A few binges may be fun, but overall, good nutrition can certainly help most to feel better throughout the holiday season.

 On the other hand, holiday revelers need not beat themselves up with self-imposed guilt for a few extra calories at seasonal celebrations. After all, balance is the key to reduced stress.

 

4. Stay simple.

 Culturally, gift-giving has become the highlight of the holiday season. As delightful as this may seem, particularly to younger holiday celebrants, season’s greetings need not focus wholly on material items. The shopping and spending can prove costly to both pocketbooks and personalities.

 Many families, clubs, workplace departments and other groups choose to draw names for gift-giving. Others opt to make group donations to charitable organizations, in lieu of exchanging personal gifts. White elephant gift parties and Yankee swaps are also popular. These tactics can greatly reduce the stress of holiday gift-giving.

 

5. Be bold with boundaries.

 Over-scheduling may be the single greatest stress-maker of the holiday season. Seeking super celebrations, many families and friends allow their calendars to overflow with holiday parties and events. These commitments may be piled on top of regular daily responsibilities, such as work and home obligations.

 What is the result? Instead of enjoying the holiday season, folks become rushed, frustrated and even impatient. Where is the holiday spirit, if folks must race the clock?

 Creative holiday celebrants seek to carve out personal time to spend alone or with loved ones. A quiet evening at home with a good book, a shared family board game or a favorite holiday movie can be a super stress-buster during the holiday season.

 

6. Edit expectations.

 Often, personal expectations may drive folks into a season of stress, rather than celebration, during the holidays. Seeking to recreate ideal traditions or memories of holidays past, or to fulfill holiday fantasies, can prove futile and frantic. Instead of enjoying the holiday season, celebrants may be tempted to overdo, to try to top previous holidays or to create the perfect party or new holiday memories.

 When did holiday revelry become a rat race? Maybe it is time to adjust personal expectations, or oneself and of others, and simply bask in the simple beauty of the holiday season.

 

7. Crate for convenience.

 Once the holiday season has passed, a little organization can greatly simplify the packing of seasonal items, adding to the ease of the following year’s celebration. Strategic storage (perhaps in clearly labeled bins or boxes) makes holiday decorations, greeting cards, wrapping papers and other supplies readily accessible for the next year.

 Discarding or donating unused items also streamlines the tasks that will be required later.

 Perhaps it is time for the holiday season to return to a season of simplicity, a time to be treasured and a moment of magic, rather than madness. In sanity and celebration, the holiday season may be merry without becoming mayhem.

 

May the holidays be happy, but not harried.

 

Image/s: adapted from public domain artwork

 

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20 sincere sympathy card sentiments to comfort those who grieve

 

What does one say to a grieving colleague, friend or loved one, when words seem to fail?

 How can a person find the right words to write in a sympathy card? Sometimes the simplest words are the most difficult to find, especially when it comes to comforting those who mourn the death of a loved one.

 

20 comforting statements for sympathy cards

 Here are 20 tender and true phrasings that caring folks might include in sympathy card notes for those who are grieving a loved one's loss. Some of these words of sympathy include statements of faith, while others are simply comments of personal compassion.

 Following this list are a dozen funereal faux pas comments that are best avoided, when addressing thse who are in grief. 

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

1. “I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of _____.”
2. “I’m praying for you.”
3. “I’m thinking of you during this difficult and sad time.”
4. “In loving memory of ______. We will all miss him dearly.”
5. “Love and sympathies to you and your family.”
6. “May fond memories of _______ bring you comfort, even as you face these dark days.”
7. “May God bless you and keep you in his care, now and in the days to come.”
8. “May God comfort you with His peace and strength.”
9. “May the love of family and friends sustain you in these difficult days.”
10. “Our heartfelt condolences.”
11. “Our hearts go out to you in your time of grief.”
12. “Please accept my sincere sympathies.”
13. “Please know that we are here from you, sending our love.”
14. “Praying for you in fondness and friendship, particularly at this sad time.”
15. “Sharing your sorrow, as we fondly recall our dear friend ________.”
16. “We cannot begin to understand what you must be going through right now, but we send our love, and we promise to pray for your entire family.”
17. “With love and fond memories of ________.”
18. “With sincere sympathy.”
19. “Words fail to express our sadness at the death of ________.”
20. “You are in my thoughts.”

 

These expressions of sympathy may also be appropriate for comments posted on social networking environments (online) or in email messages, although actual hand-written notes may be most memorable and meaningful for grieving recipients.

12 well-intended statements to avoid at all costs

 Of course, certain overused phrases and well-meaning, but inappropriate, statements are to be absolutely avoided in sympathy cards. Here are a dozen toxic examples of these potentially tacky and damaging statements.

1. “At least, she is no longer suffering.”
2. “Death and taxes are certain.”
3. “Feel better fast.”
4. “He lived a full life.”
5. “His health went downhill so fast.”
6. “I know just how you feel.”
7. “It was just his time.”
8. “It was worse when my dad died.”
9. “Perhaps his death was a blessing, after all.”
10. “Time heals all wounds.”
11. “You will get over it eventually.”
12. “You’ll find someone else.”

 

Still at a loss for words for a condolence card for a grieving friend, coworker or other contact?

 Browse through the sympathy card rack at a local greeting card store, and read what card makers have written. Pick the phrasings that seem most appropriate for the particular situation, and tailor the wordings to make them your own.

 The most important concern, of course, is to follow through and actually send a sincere note or card to those who are grieving. Often, a telephone call or in-person call offers even more comfort and encouragement to a dear one who is in grief.

Image/s: Public domain

 

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12 Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

 

Have These Items On-Hand for Drop-Ins and Surprise Givers!

 Your holiday shopping is complete – or so you thought. Then you realize you overlooked someone on your list. Or a friend or colleague shows up with a surprise gift.

 Oops!

 Who hasn’t faced this dilemma, particularly during the holidays? What can you do, when someone offers you a present, and you find yourself unprepared to reciprocate? If you are clever (and well-stocked), you can simply put on your best elfin smile and offer a clever present in return.

 Here’s how to make this work.

 

Have extras on hand!

 Here’s a little secret, if you promise not to tell my family and friends. I have an entire dresser drawer in my basement, filled with practical and useful gifts. Next to that, I keep a supply of gift wrap, decorative sacks, ribbons, and bows. In other words, I can be ready-to-gift at a moment’s notice, especially during the holiday season.

 

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

 

Often, when I find a clever and universally useful item, I will pick up a few sets. Bargain-hunters may be pleased to gather gift possibilities when great deals are available.

 

Here are a dozen ready-to-gift items you might keep on hand:

 

1. Who ever has enough picture frames? If you are really clever, you can slip a special photo into the frame, right before you wrap it. Do you have digital photos of the recipient on your computer? Got a recent photo in an album or drawer? Put it in the frame, and you will have a wonderful personalized gift.
2. Nothing spells thoughtfulness more than home-baked goods. Perhaps, during the holidays, you make special breads, bars, cookies, or other delights in your kitchen. Why not package up a few extra sets and set them aside for surprise visitors, who are sure to call!
3. Gourmet foods make delicious holidays gifts for nearly anyone. Jams, nuts, cheese trays, and even salamis are welcome gifts. Popcorn tins are also popular picks.
4. Scented candles in lovely colors can be perfect last-minute gifts. Choose jar candles, ceramic ones, or even fancy tapers. Purchase these in bulk, and sort them into pretty bundles, tied with festive ribbon or raffia.
5. Do you love to knit or crochet? Maybe you can create a few fun winter scarves or mittens for holiday giving. Hey, if you don’t give them away, after all, you will have a wonderful warm wardrobe after the holidays!
6. Can you sew? Home-sewn creations are most memorable gifts. Buy several economy white pillowcases, and embellish them with machine embroidery or store-bought trims. How about making holiday pillowcases for gifts?
7. Or, cut squares of holiday calico fabric, and finish the edges to make festive cloth napkins. These also make handy basket liners for baked goods.
8. Soaps and special bath products make excellent treats for most folks. Purchase these when you find good values, and you will always be ready for gifting!
9. Candy assortments are sure-fire winning gifts, even at a moment’s notice. Elegant confections can suit nearly anyone!
10. Holiday tree ornaments are in all the stores, from Halloween on. You might pick up a few of these, along with an assortment of small gift bags and tissue paper. Voila! A festive present is ready to go!
11. Along similar lines, you can find holiday music CDs everywhere. Pardon the expression, but you can often purchase these for just a song. Pick several different styles (classical, jazz, kids, rock, and others), and you will have a gift for just about anyone.
12. Of course, writing papers and note cards also make wonderful gifts. After all, doesn’t everyone need to write thank-you notes after the holidays?

 

Plan ahead for last-minute giving.

 After Christmas, when retailers slash prices on holiday items to nearly nothing, you can stock up for next year. Santa never had it so good. Snatch up a variety of non-perishable, somewhat generic gift items, and you will be ready for next year’s surprise recipients. Besides, you might even find presents for folks who are actually on your gift list.

 Where will you store these advance gifts? Here’s a tip: Wrap them carefully, and pack them with your holiday decorations. When you haul out your festive adornments next year, you will find your brand-new gifts, all ready to go!

Image/s: Public domain artwork

 

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