Holiday Stress: Taking a Break From Merrymaking

With Halloween just around the corner, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year cannot be far behind. The slew of merrymaking and celebration that is to come is exciting and fun - at least, to those who do not have to think about preparing for it. If you have been in charge of any holiday celebration, you know how stressful it can be. From preparing the food to decorating and ensuring the everyone is having fun, it is always the organizer who ends up feeling left out and stress. Beat the holiday stress and have fun at your own party with these stress-busting tips:

1. Enlist the help of others.There is no rule saying that you should be the one to do all the holiday tasks alone. Seek support and help from your friends, family, colleagues, and other people who are involved in the celebration. Delegate tasks such as putting up the decorations, printing invitations, and other what-have-you's. By getting some of these holiday tasks out of the way, you get more time to rest and focus on more important matters like enjoying the season.

2. Learn to refuse and say no.Think about last year's holiday bash and why you were unable to enjoy it. Chances are, you spent too much time on manning the buffet or playing host. Or you stayed late at the office doing a report a colleague begged you to do since she has to attend her child's holiday recital. To prevent stress, accept only responsibilities you can handle and want to do instead of agreeing to everything. This way, you won't feel bad, bitter, or overwhelmed.

3. Plan in advance and stick to it.Formulate a plan way before the holiday season starts. Keep a calendar detailing your schedule right down to Christmas shopping dates and parties. Just keep in mind to maintain a certain degree of flexibility in your planning so you won't get stressed when things don't go like you planned. Create a plan, stick to it as much as possible, and have alternative options.

4. Be realistic in your holiday expectations.Holidays, as portrayed on TV and movies, are magical. But the real holidays are not always as peaceful and joyful as these shows would like you to believe. By setting your sights on a perfect holiday season, you are just setting yourself up for more stress and disappointment. Accept that some things may go wrong and not turn out the way you want them to. A guest you invited will not probably come and you may not receive the gifts you want. By accepting these situations, you lessen the stress and even find greater joy when things do turn out right.

5. Do something for yourself.Prior to the celebration, you probably spent your energies on making sure that everybody else will have a great time during the holidays. You shopped, wrapped gifts, cooked, and hosted a party. You did all of these to give cheer to other people and in doing so, you must have forgotten someone especially important - you. Go to a spa, get a massage, buy yourself a new book, or see a movie. The bottom line is, make yourself happy.