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..…with SEVEN great ways to reduce Holiday Stress!
1. Set up a Holiday action plan.
Start by determining what activities are most essential to bringing YOU that Holiday joy. Then, set goals based on how you will spend your time doing things that you value. Don’t forget to break down larger goals in smaller and more manageable tasks. Be sure to write them down, and refer to them often.
2. Keep your plans WITH YOU all of the time.
Include your appointments, task list, gift list (including ideas), contacts and budget notes with you, so that you will be able to make use of this information as you need it.
3. Spend time daily and weekly to review your plans.
Take time to review your goals. Chart your progress to make sure that you are on track AND that nothing critical gets overlooked. Set deadlines for your goals. Remember to be realistic, AND remember to reward your progress.
4. Create your Holiday budget AND stick to it.
Determine how much will you spend in total and for each person on your gift list. Take your budget with you, and keep track of what you’ve spent. Be sure to include an allowance in your budget for unforeseen circumstances like forgetting to include a person on your list, price increases, shipping costs and sales ending too soon.
5. Keep gift buying as simple as possible.
Limit the number of stores as well as the amount of time spent in each one. Online buying is a good alternative as long as you allow extra time and consider shipping costs in your budget. Follow your plan as closely as you can. Include some flexibility, so you still enjoy your gift buying experience.
6. Focus your time between work and play.
When you are working, don’t focus on your personal life and your never-ending to-do list. Do your best to leave work on time, so you CAN get those things done. Try to focus ONLY on family and friends while you are spending time with them.
7. Take time for your own personal well-being.
Whenever you are feeling stressed, take time to relax and refocus. Schedule time for self-renewal, exercise and healthy eating. If you can’t get everything done, focus on the things that matter most to you.
When you plan in advance and manage your time based on what is most important to you, you will have less stress and more peace during the Holidays AND in the New Year ahead.
STRESS-FREE HOLIDAYS
The Holidays are supposed to bring us joy.
..For many of us, it is also a time of stress.
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Many, but certainly not ALL sources of Holiday stress can be relieved to some degree by prior planning and organization.
Let’s take a look at the TOP TEN Most Stressful Holiday Activities List from Franklin Covey, a global leader in effectiveness training.
1. Spending too much money
2. Deciding which gifts to give to whom
3. Sending parcels and cards on time
4. Taking care of health and well-being
5. Not enough time for gift buying
6. Not enough time to attend events
7. Decorating and hosting parties
8. Managing workloads in order to take time off
9. Maintaining relationships with family and friends
10. Creating and sticking to a Holiday budget.
Most of these items probably sound quite familiar to most of us, and almost every one of them could be reduced or even eliminated with a bit of prior planning and organization.
We recommend that you start NOW (it IS November!) to make your own plan to relieve your Holiday stressors.
If you need a few ideas, read on to check out our suggestions to reduce Holiday stress. Print out a Holiday Checklist.
P.S. What stresses YOU most about the Holidays? Comment on our blog or Facebook page and let us know!
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
– Chinese Proverb
Check out Coaching Positive Performance’s 7 Tips in How to plan for a productive day.
The majority of people have too many items on their To Do List. Daunting lists can be overwhelming and make it more difficult to get started with accomplishing those tasks.
Check out Leslie Shreve’s article What NOT to Use in Your Task List and Why.
Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”
I know it’s summer, and for many people, it’s likely the time
of year when you feel most lazy. If you’re on holidays, that’s
OK.
If you’re supposed to be working, it’s a different story.
How well do you manage your time?
Check out Lolly Daskal’s short article 7 Time Management Mistakes That Are a Complete Waste of Time.
Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”
…IT’S AUGUST!
…It’s been more than a few months since my last
…newsletter. Life threw me another curve ball. This
…time, however, it was expected–for the most part.
In a span of five months, three family members had joint replacements and another major surgery. Countless hours were spent at the hospital, on the highway and caring for my mother. There are times in life when family and friends need to be first on the priority list. I am grateful for clients and business associates who are so understanding. I did, however, complete a very large client move which required me to be out of town for six weeks.
During times like this, I had to remind myself that there’s only one of me. As my business coach said recently, “I wish I could clone you!” If only it were that simple!
It’s important to take care of yourself when life gets to be overwhelming. Here are 106 Tips from Caregivers which may be helpful if you find yourself in that situation.
The past month has been busy, but it hasn’t all been work-related. We celebrated my niece’s wedding several weeks ago. I’d like to officially welcome Patrice to our family–as well as all of his family who travelled from France. It’s been the summer for weddings, as we’ve had the honour of attending two others as well–at beautiful locations.
I also managed to squeeze in six days of rest and relaxation at a friend’s cottage on beautiful Lake Temagami.
Have you been promising yourself that you’ll clean out the garage or have a yard sale this summer? Here are links to a couple of past blog posts–for our new readers and for those who asked for a repeat.
Get started and turn over another leaf!
Do you find yourself saying “I’m so busy”?
Many people can likely plead guilty to this question–including me.
My friend, Anne Day, shares her perspective on Treading water in this sea of busyness.
Omad Safi shares his thoughts too in The Disease of Being Busy.
Think about what you can do differently in the next few months.
“I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.”
Oprah Winfrey
TAKE ACTION!
Yes, it’s the middle of summer. That doesn’t mean you can’t work on something that’s meaningful to you. Begin that meaningful personal project, or start something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, but haven’t yet had the resolve to do. Life is short. TODAY is the day to take action!
This motivational strategy was provided by our associate, Judith Tremblay of Paths to Change. To sign up for her weekly strategies, please click here.
Cathy Mendler
Phone: 519-669-1377
Email: info@anewleaforganizers.ca
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