by Lacey Nix

Created on: February 17, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Commercials, movies and Hallmark cards have many of us believing that holidays are a magical time filled with love, celebration, gift giving and no stress. If you have ever lived through a real holiday with in-laws or big parties, you might think differently.

It is a common theme among box office comedies, and most of your friends have their share of horror stories about the holidays. However, holidays are meant to be celebrations, not days of stress leading up to a gathering that gives you even more stress.

Gift giving, large party preparations, cooking the perfect meal and high expectations are all big reasons to let the holidays stress you out. However, they don't have to. Holidays are meant to be breaks for you, they are meant to be celebrations with loved ones and days you will remember for good reasons, not bad.

If you want a magical holiday, free of drama and with positive memories there are some golden rules you should keep in mind.

1. Lower your expectations.

Not all holidays are like Martha Stewart's. Holidays in the movies are just that, in the movies with paid actors and scripts. Society has created an ideal for us that is almost impossible to live up to. If you want a holiday without arguments, lower your expectations. Expect problems to arise. Anytime you get a large group of people together to celebrate and have dinner, difficulties will always arise. If you plan for problems, you won't be as likely to be disappointed and start an argument.

2. Understand that holidays are stressful for everyone involved.

As much as you want a perfect holiday, so do other people. Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to walk away. With the stress of the holidays involved people are more likely to say things they don't mean. Don't take things personally and tell yourself before your functions that you will not get involved.

3. Shop Early

Most holiday arguments with strangers happen over gifts at stores. To avoid the chaos of gift grabbing and stealing shop early or shop on-line. This will eliminate your interaction with strangers and ensure you get the gifts you want in time for the big day.

4. Understand that everything is not about you.

Everyone celebrates holidays in their own way. You may have a set way in your mind you want things to turn out, but so does someone else. The best way to avoid an argument is to understand that everyone has different expectations and try to come to some kind of agreement between the parties.

5. Compromise

If you and a spouse are fighting

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>