With so much to do and so little time to do them, it’s no wonder the holiday season is the most stressful time of the year. As we enter into the busiest months of 2009, keep these 5 tips in mind.
1. Keep what you can consistent. The holidays can bring about changes in everyone’s routine. When possible, keep the children’s sleep schedules and eating schedules consistent. Doing so well help assure that the children are well rested and fed, and when they are, they’ll more easily adapt to others changes in their routine.
2. Delegate what you can. It always seems like there is so much more to do around the holidays; more cleaning, more shopping, more preparations. When possible recruit others and assign tasks. Take advantage of on-line shopping opportunities and get the kids to pitch in with picking up around the house.
3. Set aside “me time.” The holiday’s can be over stimulating to adults and children alike. Everyone needs their own version of a daily time out. Be sure to schedule in downtime for both you and the kids. Set aside time to read, watch a holiday movie or just to sit down and relax.
4. Set priorities. Realize that you can’t be all things to all people or be in more than one place at once. There will always be one more recipe to try, one more function to attend or one more gift to buy. To avoid burnout, set limits on what you and your family are and aren’t able to do.
5. Keep a running list. Keep a list of all commitments and shopping needs. Doing so will help you avoid overbooking (or missing commitments) and allow you to keep track of what’s been done and what still needs to be accomplished.