Guide to staying “Stress-free” during the Holiday Season.

Has stress taken the fun out of your holidays? Well, you’re not alone. Sure, there’s a part of all of us that looks forward to this time of year. After all, some of our favorite memories were born during the festive whimsy of this season. But even those who truly love the holidays must admit it can be stressful.

In fact, 29% all Americans struggle with the idea of putting up decorations, 35% say it’s stressful planning, hosting or attending family gatherings, and nearly half say that “holiday shopping” causes the most stress during the holidays with 48% feeling the pressure to find “the right gifts” for everyone. Overall, a whopping 88% of believe the holidays are the most stressful time of the year.

How did that happen? How did we go from all the wonder and excitement of childhood enchantment to feeling overwhelmed and anxious just getting ready to celebrate? Ok, yes, adulthood responsibilities do take a toll. You deserve to feel that carefree delight again. And the truth is it’s not gone – it’s that since of imagination and creativity that’s still there. In fact, many experts believe it is a deep-seeded human need to share, experience and express creativity, imagination and emotional comfort that lives at the core of our celebrations. We can all still bring this since of joy, warmth and yes, maybe even a little magic back into our lives.

So, is it really possible to put the “jolly” back in your Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and any other celebration of the season??How do you create cherished holiday moments and memories with less stress? ?

Yes, these proven strategies will help you overcome the holiday stress. This guide is designed to give you strategies to help with the most common “stressors” of the season. It also includes helpful “Holiday Travel” tips so you’ll be ready to handle the holidays no matter where you are.

Are you ready?

Great… let’s get stated!

There are many strategies you can act on right now to help you reduce the uptick of stress during the holidays (and even year-round). But the truth is, not two people (or their day-to-day triggers) are the same. The only way to experience stress relief that’s unique to you is to choose and more importantly commit to taking action on so you can truly enjoy more of your entire holiday season.

This guide is designed to provide 3 list of actions you can take for:

·??????Holiday Stress Reduction

·??????Holiday Travel Stress Reduction

·??????Quick Activity for Holiday Travel Stress Relief

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se the list below to take empowering steps and implement them now to relieve overwhelm, frustration,

Holiday stress reduction strategies:

• ???????Acknowledge that everything doesn't need to be “perfect”
• ??????Consider what it is you “really” want to do to celebrate the holidays
• ??????Start holiday planning and preparations earlier
• ??????Get help wherever you can when planning and holding festive celebrations
• ??????Set a budget range (“high-end” and “low-end” to give you flexibility)
• ??????Don’t be afraid to scale down your holiday plans if your time is limited
• ??????Talk with family members and friends about things they “like” rather than “want”
• ??????Plan celebrations that express what the holidays truly mean for you
• ??????Reflect on old family traditions. Which ones do you really, really love?
• ??????Opt to only keep holiday traditions that bring you “joy and happiness”
• ??????Give yourself permission to “let go” of old traditions that you don’t like
• ??????Establish start and stop times for parties and make them clear to others
• ??????Order big batches of pre-made desserts from local bakeries to save time
• ??????Give people you’re inviting plenty of advanced notice of your holiday plans
• ??????Share issues as soon as possible with a person who may create tension
• ??????Assign seats with place cards to help avoid tension during holiday dinners
• ??????Short-circuit family disagreements by setting “off-limits topics” or changing subjects
• ??????Make a gift list, considering the amount of money you can comfortably spend
• ??????Shop early and shop local – especially small businesses
• ??????Ask for gift suggestions from the people on your gift list
• ??????Suggest a family name-drawing with a budget range to reduce pressure
• ??????Shop early and place gifts in a drawer or closet so you’ll be ready last-minute gifts
• ??????Put yourself back on the list and schedule “Me time, Re-fresh time”
• ??????Sign-up for creativity, pampering, or other classes and programs to rejuvenate
• ??????Take time daily to meditate, even if only for a few minutes
• ??????Schedule time to be with your kids for some special holiday moments
• ??????Keep the kids busy with holiday craft classes (Live or online) or home activities
• ?

Stress-Free Holiday Traveling:

• ??????Plan holiday travel itineraries in advance (A general overview to keep it flexible)
• ??????Travel during off-peak hours
• ??????Plan to get rested before traveling
• ??????Set aside “extra money” to your travel budget treats or in case of emergencies
• ??????Arrive at the airport or other station a little early in case of last-minute challenges
• ??????Expect to run into snags and know it’s ok
• ??????Pack light and carry on your bag (rather than checking it)
• ??????Consider shipping things to your destination or back home, rather than checking it
• ??????Allow extra time to travel from place-to-place and expect heavier traffic
• ??????Bring plenty of items to help keep the kids happily occupied with loved ones
• ??????Avoid vending machines and pack snacks that travel well without refrigeration
• ??????Plan to arrive at your holiday destination rested and excited to share your holidays
• ??????Make waiting times go faster and regain a happy holiday feeling by meditating (see below)

Quick Activity for Holiday Travel Stress Relief:?

• ??????Sit up straight and relax your shoulders
• ??????Close your eyes and relax your brow and jaw
• ??????Inhale through your nose and slowly blow out through your month like blowing through a straw (6 times)
• ??????Let distracting thoughts flow by (like passing cars) as you focus on deep breathing
• ??????Think about your destination and the loved ones you’re looking forward to visiting
• ??????Remember that you're surrounded by people making similar plans – just like you
• ??????Once you're feeling relaxed and happy, let go of the details and enjoy that warm feeling
• ??????Imagine wrapping up those good feelings and presenting them to everyone around you
• ??????Gradually return your attention to the present moment
• ??????Remind yourself of the fellowship you felt while meditating
• ??????Use portable meditation props, like a favorite image on your smart phone or tablet

How do you feel? Did you find this useful? And as always, if you’d like more resources, techniques or help tapping into your own personalized creative solutions don’t hesitate to let us know at www.VividExpressions.com

These last few weeks of the year are filled with to do lists, expectations, and no shortage of things to do but it’s also filled with laughter, food, love, and memory making.?Please feel free share these tips with someone you care about who will enjoy it too!?