 |
10 Steps to a Stress-free Holiday
Author: Beth Tabak  | Posted: 26-10-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 7 | Rating: (53)  (?) 
 "The stress-free way to enjoy the holidays is to plan, take one step at a time, and have a sense of humor.” Beth Tabak
Can you feel the holiday jitters beginning? Suddenly there it is right around the corner. Relax! Take time to plan well today and ease into the holidays with a big smile. Grab your journal and pen, and let’s get started.
1- Reminisce over previous holidays- In your journal create two columns and label them What Works and Not That Again. Under What Works list activities that come naturally, bring you joy, and ease into place. Under Not That Again list challenges. Jot down energy draining activities that bring you down. What changes will you make to delegate, dump, or modify the items in the Not That Again column and embrace more of what is in the What Works column?
2- Choose a theme that motivates you- What is most important this holiday? Base your theme on that. If you want to cut out traveling consider “Home for the Holidays”. If your budget is tight ponder “Simply Sensational”. Your theme keeps you focused. One that honors your spirituality could be "Faith and Family First". Or choose a favorite quote such as Mahatma Gandhi's “Be the Change You Wish to see in the World”. Be creative, have fun, and write it down.
3- Set your top 4 priorities- Base them on what you really want which connects with your theme. Get crystal clear. Write them down. When you know your priorities you are able to respond easily to a request and set boundaries. When someone asks you to get involved look at your priorities and see if it serves them. If it does, consider it. If not, the answer is likely no.
4- Create a Map- If you took a big trip without planning you would likely get lost, waste time, and experience anxiety. It makes sense to plan at the holidays when so many areas of our lives are affected: time, energy, personal care, relationships, physical environment, and finances. Consider creating a task list thru the end of the year. It takes a block of time but saves time and stress. It will rescue you from running in circles, going back and forth to the same place, and trying to remember what is next. In the past I have had hundreds of items on my task list. No wonder we get stressed when we attempt to keep it in our heads.
Here's a tool to help. Pick up a holiday task list at the website below or create your own. On your computer create a chart with 4 columns. Use your theme for the header. Under your theme list your priorities horizontally. Label the columns in a way that is helpful to you. I use Business, Personal, Holiday, and Need List. Use small font and minimal margin space to fit as many rows as possible. Print your map. List your tasks and add on as they come to you. Keep your map with you at all times. Schedule blocks of time to carry out the tasks. Have fun and build momentum as you make progress. Remember to save it for next year.
5- Simplify- Every task must be handled. You can do it, delegate it, or dump it. Eliminate what does not serve your priorities. What can you get help on? Get rid of those items on your Not That Again list. Hire out when possible. Ask guests to bring a dish instead of you doing it all. Get your family involved and remember that things do not have to be perfect. Let go! This will give you the freedom to embrace what you truly enjoy this season.
6- Set a budget- Develop a budget that feels good. There are lots of ways to have a special holiday without adding stress to the budget. Show people they are appreciated. Plan family fun and activities. Let someone know what is special about them in a card, letter, cassette, or video. Be creative. Hide gifts, wrap up boxes with little clues inside, and let the kids have a scavenger hunt. Don't let a tight budget steal your joy. Make it fun and begin 2007 stress-free.
7- Set boundaries- Decide now what you will not tolerate. Write it down. Remember your Not That Again list? Is there someone who ropes you into things you don't want to do? Have the conversation that is overdue. Be compassionate, and no is no. If someone keeps asking after you have said no they are trying to control you. Setting boundaries is about educating others on how they can treat you. Is there someone you need to educate?
8- Schedule time for planning and yourself- When is a good time to update your plan? When can you take time for you? Put it on your calendar each week thru the end of the year. Keep the appointments. Add this line to your day timer as a reminder: "I have an appointment in honor of myself this _________ (day) at __:__ (time) to do something special for me because I sooooooo deserve it!"
9- Give in a way that gives you joy vs. obligation- When you give in a way that comes naturally, you stay authentic to yourself. Thereby, you are able to share your own special gifts with others. When you are doing what you love, life clicks. If there is a situation you are dreading, think about how you can tweak it to handle it in a way that would bring you more joy.
10- Take action now- Begin today so that you are tying up your last bows well before the pitter patter of hoofs on the rooftop. Keep your holiday journal and map close at hand. The sooner you complete your tasks, the sooner you can prop your feet up, sip your favorite hot beverage, and enjoy the atmosphere you created this season!
What I want for you is to take the first step...Starting Now!
Please send your thoughts and comments. I would love to hear from you. Copyright 2002 (Revised 2006), Beth A. Tabak. All rights reserved.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/10-steps-to-a-stressfree-holiday-245658.html
About the Author:Beth Tabak of www.StartingNowCoaching.com is 100% committed to small business coaching & personal life coaching. She is also a speaker and columnist. Beth coaches big thinkers to be unlimited, stand out in the crowd, and experience the vastness of their capabilities. Come see all that is available to you and say "hello".
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Organize Life & Business~ 5 Steps to Get Organized & Energized
By: Beth Tabak | 03/07/2007 | Self Help
Take action to reduce the time doing what drags you down and spend more doing what makes your heart sing. Organize life and business with 5 simple steps that shift you from chaos to ease.
10 Essential Time Management Tips to Get Results
By: Beth Tabak | 12/03/2008 | Time Management
Organize your life and get results with 10 essential time management tips. Managing time is much about managing self. Make choices, develop habits, and take the actions to get the results you crave. Read on for practical steps to get the important stuff done.
By: | 31/12/1969 |
Organizing Clutter at Your Workplace and Home
By: The Work/Life Experts at eni | 07/04/2008 | Stress Management
This article provides tips on how to organize your workplace and at home. Use these tips to help you balance your personal and professional life, and feel less stressed.
It's Time for Organizing Your Time
By: Lee Dobbins | 14/10/2006 | Time Management
Here's 5 tips that may help you better organize your time.
10 Ways to DE-Stress Before Organizing Your Home
By: Jan Hayner | 20/02/2007 | Home and Family
Organizing shouldn't be stressful and these tips will show you how to accomplish it. Easy organizing is the key to a happy home.
Boost Completions & Feel Great by Year End~ Plus Holiday Tips
By: Beth Tabak | 13/11/2007 | Holidays
Begin today and know exactly what to complete by year end. Save time, money, and feel great as you build completions, finish early, sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Seven Steps for Saving Time (by Organizing Your Life)
By: Jamie Jefferson | 17/01/2008 | Time Management
Here are seven simple organizing techniques that can save you a few minutes every single day or week, and that's time you can spend doing absolutely anything you like.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern life and fight or flight?
By: HypnoFreak | 01-11-2007
due to our ever hectic modern day living, how do you feel this effects our fight or flight reaction?you may say not at all! but as we can't use our fight or flight basic instinct in modern life does this effect us psyically and mentally?eg if your boss theatens to fire you for being late, you get scared your fight or flight kicks in, you can't leap on you boss and beat him up, and you can't just turn and run out the door, you stand there (usually) and just take it. this can be said for hundreds of modern day situations, so how does this effect us? is this maybe a reason for a lot of illness and stress etc? what do you think??
Relationship between stress, anxiety, habits, and phobias?
By: HypnoFreak | 01-11-2007
what are the relationships between stress, anxiety, habits, and phobias?and how are these gained and even treated?
Job design elements in organization
By: antonyfelixhermond | 29-10-2007
job design elements in organization
All possible question in business management
By: evangoran | 26-10-2007
all possible question in business management
Management and globalisation
By: kwantee | 13-10-2007
how management has changed with respect globalization?what are the specific aspects of management that has changed?
Can phentermine affect my menstrual cycle?
By: dmuvdi | 13-10-2007
can phentermine affect my menstrual cycle?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Self Help Articles
The Ultimate 4 Steps to Achieve Anything You Want
By: Shawn Lim | 08/09/2008
No matter who you are and where you live today, I believe that there must be something that you want to achieve in your life. Maybe you want to be rich, maybe you want to be a millionaire, maybe you want to lose 10 pounds, maybe you want to have a pretty girlfriend, etc. If you truly think about it, there must be something that you want to achieve in your life.
The Power of Afformations
By: Helen Garvey | 06/09/2008
Afformations are positive questions we ask ourselves. I'm sure we've all heard of affirmations, afformations go that one step further to give us the life we desire.
The Art of Self-healing, Using Nlp
By: Reza Hossein Borr | 05/09/2008
Since you have the choice of controlling and managing different ingredients that cause health improvement, you become responsible for managing your body and your mind in a way that you boost your immune system and increase your health. So your health begins by understanding the way you think and if in any case, you fell ill, you need to know different strategies, techniques and principles for recovering your health.
Go for African American Speakers
By: Kassia Macy | 05/09/2008
The results of a survey on the most popular phobias concluded that most of the people are not that afraid of death or of accidents, but they are afraid of speaking in front an audience. Besides, the survey’s statistics say that African American speakers are the best in this area. Black speakers are not afraid to express their opinions in public. They are always fit and when they enter a room, everybody can feel their energy.
Pick the Right Colour Clothes for You
By: Chris Scarles | 05/09/2008
Colour has an impact on everyone. Being aware of this is an important consideration and can affect the people you are meeting. So make sure you pick the right coloured clothes for the occasion.
Socail Life
By: Ahoud Dawood Al-Siyabi | 05/09/2008
Who are you? Why are you in this world? What are your believes about life? Over these thousands and millions of years answering these questions has meant going within the infinity well of love, infinity well of joy and infinity well of peace, which are treasures that each human being occurs to have.........................
Beat Your Travel Alarm Clocks to the Draw!
By: Bradlley Mckoy | 04/09/2008
You have many of those infernal inventions man created to absolutely wreak havoc on your age-old biological patterns and decades-old psychological stability. And no, this is not the institution of marriage. These are travel alarm clocks - the types that scream like hellish banshees, explode like nuclear bombs, and buzz...
Anger Can Have Positive Results
By: David Earle | 04/09/2008
Use anger correctly and positive results can happen! This statement is very shocking, for it is in direct contradiction with experience. Most people have witnessed the sharp and cutting blade of anger as it slashes and cuts its victims and have experienced the unresolved anger that creates emotional distance be-tween themselves and their loved ones. It is natural to experience anger, but how can it achieve positive results?
More from Beth Tabak
Be Worry-free: Stop Worrying Achieve More
By: Beth Tabak | 02/04/2008 | Self Help
Worry causes us to go weak physically and emotionally. Fortunately, we have a wonderful ability to shift old habits to new habits that create more productive results. Read on to learn how to be worry-free.
10 Essential Time Management Tips to Get Results
By: Beth Tabak | 12/03/2008 | Time Management
Organize your life and get results with 10 essential time management tips. Managing time is much about managing self. Make choices, develop habits, and take the actions to get the results you crave. Read on for practical steps to get the important stuff done.
Boost Completions & Feel Great by Year End~ Plus Holiday Tips
By: Beth Tabak | 13/11/2007 | Holidays
Begin today and know exactly what to complete by year end. Save time, money, and feel great as you build completions, finish early, sit back, relax, and enjoy.
5 Steps to Change Life by Making a 100% Commitment
By: Beth Tabak | 12/07/2007 | Self Improvement
I have noticed over the years that the clients who are most successful in creating the changes they want are the ones who commit 100%, and those who struggle have an aversion to or fear of commitment. When creating a high quality life, career, or business 100% is the only way to go. Here are five steps to make it easier to say 'yes' to what you want in a way that gets results.
Motivation- Get the Daily Dose That Keeps you on Fire
By: Beth Tabak | 03/07/2007 | Motivational
Motivation seems to have many of us playing red light-green light. We're on, then off. Yet researchers have found that motivation is perhaps the number one component in the realization of genius. So it's worth our attention! Check out the following steps to keep the fire burning.
Organize Life & Business~ 5 Steps to Get Organized & Energized
By: Beth Tabak | 03/07/2007 | Self Help
Take action to reduce the time doing what drags you down and spend more doing what makes your heart sing. Organize life and business with 5 simple steps that shift you from chaos to ease.
Procrastination- 4 Essentials to Break Through
By: Beth Tabak | 03/07/2007 | Self Help
We’ve all experienced the great feeling of working through to a goal step by step. We’ve also experienced those times when we put something off that could make a positive long-term impact in our life. Here are 4 essentials to grab when you get stuck.
Change Habits to Change Life- How to Shift Habits and Attain New Results
By: Beth Tabak | 03/07/2007 | Self Help
It is mind boggling that no one has ever told us to check in on our habits to see how they are serving us when ultimately they create the results we are getting day after day. Learn to how to shift habits to attain new results.
|
|
Self Improvement 
