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For some stress is at its highest during the Christmas season while others seem to revel in it and do so much more then you are able to. What with working, meal preparation, house cleaning, children to transport, christmas parties to attend and give, shopping for gifts, a tree to pick out and decorate, cards to send. How can you do it all? The answer to that is plan ahead! If you plan ahead you too can enjoy Christmas celebrations with the best of them.
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Decide in early November where you will be spending Christmas
and who you will spend it with. If you are going to travel
somewhere by car or plane make your hotel reservations and flights as
soon as possible. Pack a week in advance, that way if you come out
short on something you will have the time to have it cleaned or
purchase it.
Although Christmas shopping certainly feels more festive when you wait
till the last few weeks, it can also be more frantic! You may spend more then you should as you have to get something and a higher priced gift is the only thing you can find that you know the receiver will like. And come
January when the credit card bills arrive you will wish you had planned
ahead. Make a list of even the obvious people you will be gifting such
as your children and make a budget, first the total you want to spend,
then break it down to how much on each. This will keep you from picking
up something extra every time you see something that you think they
will love! Also if you are already hit with a credit card bill from Christmas purchases in early December that may be enough to keep you in line with your budget! Do your shopping early if it is done before December you
will have that much more time to truly enjoy the holiday and not spend
it on the run. If you must have that festive feeling that comes with
last minute shopping, plan on buying a few of the gifts on your list
that will be readily available such as slippers and robe for your
grand mother or the tie your brother knows will be under the tree!
Make a budget on how much you will spend on clothing for the
various Christmas celebrations you will attend. Purchase them ahead of
the rush while they are still available. A little black dress with
different accessories could take you every where including a New Years
Eve celebration.
Many people put on the pounds from Thanksgiving through New Years. A
few of the ways to gain weight and spend too much money is eating on
the run. It does not matter if it is the drive through, pizza delivery or
a more upscale resturant we just tend to eat more when we are fed by
others as the portions are so large to start. Plan a diet you stick to
except for when you are entertaining or at a party. Avoid the goodies
such as cookies that come into the office every day during the holiday
season or limit yourself to one or two only. If you bring something to
the office do everyone a favor and bring raw veggies and a low calorie,
low fat, nutritious dip such as home made salsa. If you have a well
thought out diet plan and stick to it you will have another thing to be
happy about come New Years as you will still fit in that little black
dress that you are wearing for all the festivities! If exercise is not
part of your life start it now! Fifteen minutes of stretching a day
will help for stress and keep the pounds from creeping on. Plan your
meals accordingly for each week and do your shopping expeditions after
having your dinner at home so you stay away from fast, fat food!
If the Christmas Celebrations are going to be at your house and cooking is not
your specialty, or even if you are a great cook, plan on making the
most simple things and purchase others such as appetizers that go from
the freezer to the serving platters in 20 minutes. There are desserts
which can be made the day before but there again you can order
delicious cakes from the bakery or online delivered to your
door. Many things can be made in the days before and simply reheated in
the oven with your turkey or ham. Watch for our Christmas menus which
will be simply delicious to eat and fix. Just remember planning everything ahead of time and sticking to it,
means you too, can really enjoy all the Christmas celebrations they pile on your plate!