6 Ways to Avoid Holiday Overwhelm

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If you are anything like me, the thought of the holidays so quickly approaching fills you with dread. There are so many things to do, so many presents to buy, and so few days left in 2022. Never mind all of the things that you want to accomplish before the end of the year. And then, there’s those scheduled trips that you have coming up too.

Relax. You can wrap your arms around this just as surely as you can wrap that tinsel around the tree.

Here are six tips for avoiding holiday overwhelm:

1. Keep it simple. Try to simplify your holiday plans in any (and every) way possible. Think about what is really necessary and what is not. Can you go visit one set of relatives instead of two? Would it be feasible to make fewer cookies this year? Is it possible to have a gift exchange instead of buying individual gifts. Strive to streamline your overly complicated holiday as much as you can.
2. Look for shortcuts. When experiencing overwhelm, why not outsource? Hire someone to cook/shop/wrap/decorate/(insert anything here) for you. Doing so will be well worth the reduced stress that it provides.
3. Create a master list. There is nothing like a detailed list to help you organize and feel more in control. The more you map it out, the better you’ll be able to execute it.
4. Figure out where can you start knocking things of the list. Once your plan is in place, you can begin completing tasks a little at a time as your schedule allows. Plus, it is so gratifying to cross things off your list, one at a time.
5. Start Early. The sooner you can chip away at it, the better. Plus, you will feel so much better once you make a dent in it, too.
6. Take some time for yourself. If you’re feeling a little bah humbug-ish, you probably haven’t gotten enough sleep, relaxation, or food. Ensure that you are saving some time for selfcare while things rev up around the holidays. You deserve it!

~Charlene Walters is a business mentor, corporate trainer, consultant, TV host and author of Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur. Find out more at https://www.ownyourother.com