Holiday Stress

I am sure we all experience it at some point over the Christmas season. You have a house full of company coming and there is so much to do to prepare. However, I am learning that I need to slow down and not overdo things. A couple of weeks ago, an email came through from Manulife that gave some tips on how to survive the holidays. The tips included some of the following:

Edit your life - say no to events that don't add meaning to the holiday season for you and your family
Clarify family expectations - perhaps cutting down on gift giving
Get organized ahead of time - plan ahead of time to help reduce stress and allow you to enjoy the season
Remember it is the thought that counts - don't let perfectionism guide decisions
Take short relaxation breaks - take a few minutes to breathe away tension
Make a list - write down what you would like to do with your family this holiday season and set reasonable priorities in order to experience joy this Christmas
Take care of yourself - try to avoid overeating and try to exercise and get the necessary sleep
Take time to laugh - they say laughter is the best medicine so take time to be jolly

I would hope that you would be able to do more than just survive the holidays but that you would be able to thrive and experience true joy this Christmas season. One tip that was not part of this list that I would add, is to spend time in the Word and attend a church service to help you focus on the birth of our Saviour, as that is what is truly important. Will you invite Jesus to be part of your Christmas? What does that look like? And not just at Christmas but throughout the year!

It feels great to be on Christmas holidays now. On Monday, the kids and I enjoyed getting a little shopping done and then spent the afternoon with Shea and the boys. The kids enjoyed spending the afternoon outside, despite the gale force winds (that also brought some warmer temperatures than we have had in awhile). Jaret and McKinley spent the whole time on the pond playing hockey. The younger ones didn't stay out as long but then had fun playing inside. It was great to be able to have a relaxing afternoon. As I know that the week previous was a busy one with Christmas concerts and also included parent viewing at dance (some pics below included). Tuesday we finished off some of the shopping, wrapping, did a little baking, and then our annual Christmas dinner with Mark & Shea. We are looking forward to a little slower pace of life this Christmas and time with family and friends. Hope you are able to take the time to truly enjoy Christmas and that you can relieve some holiday stress by keeping the above tips in mind.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 

~Luke 2:14