The holidays are approaching, and you are making lists, searching for recipes, shopping for gifts, cleaning the good silverware, searching for the star that goes on top of the tree and that hard to find singing dolly your daughter wants. You’re doing these things and a hundred more, just to ensure the holiday is picture perfect.
Expectations are high, and you believe you can meet them all. This costs you dearly, however. The level of stress is also high, and you may find yourself headed for the dreaded holiday meltdown. That makes the holidays a miserable time for you and possibly for those around you. Avoid this disaster and take back the “happy” in “happy holidays with these tips from DCH Freehold Toyota.
Forget Picture Perfect
Glossy photos in magazines and design shows on television depict homes decked out in holiday cheer. The images are alluring and you may feel that you are somehow obligated to match the splendor of these homes when entertaining for the holidays.
The picture perfect homes are dressed by large crews and hired help. The camera captures only what the producers want you to see. Enjoy the magazines and shows, but don’t envision these trappings as essential to your holiday happiness. Decorate your home in a simple design, making use of your own personal holiday treasures. Better yet, delegate the decorating to your kids, and let the ornaments fall where they may.
Take Help Where You Can Get It
Don’t think you have to do everything yourself by hand or from scratch. If you’re hosting a cocktail party, get party trays from the store and hire a bartender. If you have relatives coming in from out of town and they’re staying with you, let them help with the baking and cooking.
Handmade soaps and made-from-scratch breads may be touted as great gifts by the media, but if you’re not inclined toward crafting or baking, don’t try to start during the holidays. Instead, visit a local boutique or bakery and purchase similar gifts. You’re not only saving time, you’re boosting the local economy.
Pass on Past Obligations
Your church expects you to organize the food drive; your co-workers expect you to plan the holiday party; and your children’s teachers expect you to coordinate with the other parents and manage the classroom holiday parties. It may be that you’re expected to do all these things because you’ve done so in past years.
Choose one event in which you wish to partake, and tell the relevant people for the others that you are unable to organize, coordinate, or plan their events this year. Tell them you have contributed in the past, and that you feel others should have the same opportunity to do so. If they press, think about your goal to avoid a meltdown. Stand firm and say no.
Laugh Out Loud
The cookies burned and the snowstorm buried your car. So what? Make a new batch of cookies and build a snowman with the kids while you dig out your car.
Your Aunt Ida suggests, snidely, that the turkey will be dry because you’re cooking it wrong. Laugh out loud and tell her that’s why gravy was invented.
Make the conscious choice to adapt to the situations, to reduce your workload, and to think less about lists and more about laughing. The holidays will be all the merrier for you and for your loved ones. From all of us at DCH Freehold Toyota, enjoy the season!
