The 2010 holiday season has begun! Whether we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter solstice, New Year's, or a combination of these holidays, the next two months may wreak havoc with our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We shop, we eat, we party, we plan to visit every family member or friend, we redecorate our homes, we buy new clothes and we over-spend on gifts. Just thinking about it can send some folks into a panic attack!
So, if you are like me and have not started your shopping, or decorating, or... (insert dreaded chore here) fear not! The next several weeks we will trek the holidays together. Each week we take one step toward balance, health, and harmony. I will be sharing my thoughts and feelings along the way, and hope you will share yours too!
Step one: Create a plan
Creating a plan gives us a structure and a starting point.
You will need a blank calendar for the months of November and December (You may want to extend this into January.) Microsoft office has a calendar wizard. Get creative!
Now write in all the events, parties, travel plans, dinners, school performances, and special dates to which you've already committed. Be sure to write in actual start times (and finish times if you will attend more than one function in a day.) I like to color code my calendar entries according to major headings, like parties, or travel, or work functions. Come on, this can be fun!
Add in your schedule for work, school, carpool, etc.
Tip:
You'll want to keep this schedule handy to prevent over-committing.
Step two: Create a budget
Just like the schedule, a budget will help to prevent stress from over-spending.
You will need a notebook or computer file to write out the details of your plan.
For each item you have placed on your calendar, specify whether you will need to spend money on clothes, food, travel, gifts. Even if you have the perfect dress in your closet, pull it out, try it on. Does it need to be dry-cleaned? Do you have shoes, pantyhose, etc? These are the little extras that add up, sending us into overload. Make sure your spouse and kids do this too.
If the expenses you tally during this process exceed your budget, look at where you can make adjustments.
Tips:
The same dress can look completely different with different accessories. If you will be attending parties where the guest list overlaps, try adding a festive jacket, or colorful shawl. Change out your jewelry, your hairstyle, makeup and nail color.
Shop for outfits in the same color scheme so you can wear the same shoes.
For men, swap out a tie, or vest, or shirt for a completely different look.
When baking, double or triple the recipe and freeze several portions to take to different parties.
Baked items make a great relatively inexpensive gift! Package in festive boxes, jars, baskets that may double as a decoration or useful storage later. Think of your host/hostess and what might be meaningful for them.
So you have your calendar/basic structure and your budget. Feeling better yet? Or has this created a sense of overwhelm? This next step should help with the impending doom.
Step three: Meta-planning (planning the plan)
Break down each event, date, party, meal, outing on your calendar and realistically estimate prep time. For example, dinner at the neighbors might include baking or preparing a dish, clothing (purchase, cleaning or ironing, or simply getting dressed). Be sure to include other family members in your schedule. Of course more extensive or elaborate plans will include more preparation, so break it down into smaller steps.
Tips:
A good rule of thumb is to allow 2-1/2 times the amount of time you think you will need to complete a project. Let's face it, in a perfect world with no distractions, detours, or problems, we could breeze through assignments. But when was the last time that happened? Plan for these disruptions and you are pleasantly surprised when all goes well.
Look at least a week ahead when scheduling. In other words, shop this week for your parties next weekend. Avoid last minute trips to the store by laying out clothes, recipes, gifts a week in advance.
If you will be traveling during the holidays, plan to have mail held by a neighbor, or via www.usps.com. Plan to ship packages well in advance to insure their timely arrival. Plan your wardrobe to include mix and match items to save on space. Remember most airlines charge extra for your bags.
And now, the best part of this plan...
Each week, plan one block of time for you. For some, this is a bubble bath and nice soothing music. For others, this may be a movie or dinner out with your spouse or friend. Make it part of your preparation for a party - plan a spa mani-pedi date to catch up with girlfriends and relax at the same time! Mix it up, or keep it the same, but plan it. It will keep you smiling when everything starts getting crazy around you.
...next week: creative gifting, or out-of-the-box ideas.
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