Holiday Stress

You're not the only one with holiday stress. How do you find the perfect gifts? Do you really have to see those people you don't get along with? How can you keep calm amidst the shopping crowds, the last-minute cooking, and trying to decorate to your satisfaction?

Let's take them one at a time.

Perfect gifts and how to pay for them when you have no money. Are you creative? Can you make things for those people who are impossible to buy for? Knitting, painting, scrapbooks, something your children make are all examples of things you can do on a tight budget. Many hobby shops have specials this time of year. Use that inner creativity and think of each person you're getting presents for. Is your best friend a dog lover? You can make a journal of dog stories and pictures you print off the Internet.

Yes, you do have to see those people you feel icky around, but you can do it with a positive attitude. Do you have the feeling your in-laws hate your guts? Put on the charm. Ask them questions about when they were young. People love to feel interesting to someone. You can bring a laptop or tablet and record them telling their stories. It will endear them to to you. Then you can share the recordings with the family.

Bumping shoulders and fighting with people over the last item on a shelf can be annoying.

Be the bigger person. Let them have it. Smile a lot at the frustrated and irritated shoppers around you. It may just relax them and make the experience better. And if you let them have the last item, you'll almost be guaranteed to find something better because of your kind act.

Plan ahead for your cooking and make dishes you know. That will take gobs of pressure off.

Decorating can be a hassle, but remember all those ornaments and decorations you forgot all about? Maybe even ones you had as a kid. You can enjoy yourself, especially if you have help. Tell stories to those helping you as you decorate. If you are alone, write down memories of your treasures.

It doesn't have to be stressful or hard. It's all in attitude. And most of all, it's not even December. You can take it day by day and get a little done when you feel like it. Just do it for 15 minutes, then put it off till the next time you feel motivated. It could be an hour later, or the next day.