by David Dewitt

Created on: June 24, 2009

The holidays are called the season of comfort and joy but often they are filled with little comfort and even less joy. It seems with each passing year there is more rush and less peace. There is more stuff and less satisfaction. The holidays create more stress, more chaos and more negative emotions than any other time of the year. For a season of joy, this seems wrong. Why is this the case?

Each year the holidays are crammed with events, activities and celebrations that hold little or no meaning and become the focus of our lives. Think about it for a moment. How many extra activities are added to the schedule during this time of year? There is the Christmas program at school, Christmas parties at work, celebrations with family and then another with the extended family. Stress enters in because we have walked away from the peace. What can people do to regain a sense of peace during the holiday season and avoid the stress?

Shop early

How many crazed people with glazed eyes have you seen out on Christmas Eve searching for gifts? Christmas seems to bring out both the best and the worst in people. Waiting until the last possible minute to buy Christmas presents definitely brings out the worst in people. Avoid the crowds and start the shopping early. This also includes the grocery shopping. The supermarket can be a frustrating experience during the holidays as well. Do as much shopping ahead of time as possible. By getting the shopping out of the way, there is more time to enjoy the other aspects and activities of the holiday season.

Plan the schedule

People become rushed and confused during the holidays because their schedule or routine is completely changed. Setting a schedule of all of the various events, activities and celebrations is essential to avoiding stress associated with the holidays. Take the time to plan out the events and make a schedule so there are no surprises.

Plan some simple meals

Planning some simple meals also helps with the stress load. Making sure that the holiday meals are special can be a challenge but let the other meals the week of Christmas be simple. Why not have a dinner of grilled cheese and soup? Figure out what simple things the family enjoys and start planning a menu of those items. Keeping the holidays special does not have to be complicated.

Take advantage of sales

The Christmas season brings out some of the best sales of the year. Take advantage of these sales and shop when needed. However, be sure to go early during the sale. Going early insures there will still be a decent selection of items to choose from and often avoids the larger crowds. Start early to save some money, some time and some sanity.

Do Less

There is always the option of doing less. The world will not come to an end if some special treat is not prepared, a party is skipped or even an event is missed. Remember the season is not about doing more but enjoying more. Take some time to simply enjoy the holiday season. This may take some work but is more than worth the effort.

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