From the category archives:

Stress Management

Checking In…Holiday Planning Update

by Michaeline on December 4, 2010

We are now three weeks away from Christmas. Where are you with your holiday planning?

Have you been able to break your task list down and handle a little bit at a time or has life gotten in the way and here you are still scrambling and stressed out about all the things you need to do before the celebrations begin (if they haven’t begun already for you)?

Even if you are just getting started here are some ideas to divide and conquer your holiday task list:

• Review you gift buying list and simplify. Consider purchasing gift cards or giving coupons for tasks or time.
• Set up a wrapping station. Begin wrapping the gifts that need to be mailed.
• Set aside time to address holiday cards or eliminate that task and plan a New Year’s communication.
• Schedule a baking day. Then put it and a grocery trip in your calendar. Recruit helpers for the project. Bake with a friend or relative. Or make arrangement to do a cookie exchange with them.

Ask yourself what is most important to you this holiday season and focus on getting those things done. This can help take some of the stress out of these last few weeks.

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Regift, Recycle…Save

by Michaeline on November 26, 2010

According to www.nationalregiftingday.com the third Thursday before Christmas is National Regifting Day. This year that date is December 16, 2010.

This date is particularly appropriate since the third Thursday of December it is the most common day for a holiday office party. And it seems that coworkers are the recipients of the majority of regifts.

So why not bring regifting out of the closet and turn your office or family gift exchange into a regifting party. And before you shut the door to that idea know that regifting is becoming more accepted mostly because it is a way to save holiday expenses and as a way to recycle.

Of course, if you regift there are some guidelines to follow.

Still not ready to regift then give others gift certificates or vouchers for the valuable gift of your time. Things such a yard work, baking or babysitting are possible gifts of time.

Link above Hold a regifting party

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Reflecting on the Holidays: Evaluating Your Holiday Plan

December 26, 2009

As you begin your thank you notes take a few minutes to reflect on the holiday celebrations. Did they meet your goals? What was the best part? What would you do differently? By asking those questions and recording those notes in your holiday planner you now have your plan started for the next season. In [...]

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Stress Less for the Holidays: Take Care of Yourself

December 19, 2009

During this holiday season, remember to take care of yourself to ease stress. Holidays come on top of all our other tasks so make sure you have time for yourself. Put yourself first so you have the energy for others and other things. If you have a plan you can incorporate self care into your [...]

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Stress Less for the Holidays: Card Giving

December 5, 2009

Does the thought of sending holiday cards send you into panic mode? You can enjoy the process of card giving if you have a plan. Schedule time in your plan to buy cards and stamps and to address and sign cards. If you haven’t put these tasks in your calendar yet, do so now and [...]

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Stress Less This Holiday: Gift-giving Part 2

November 28, 2009

Here are a few more tips for organizing your holiday gift-giving: Set up a gift-wrap center right away so you can wrap as you go. Select a color and theme for your wrapping and keep all supplies such as tape, pens and scissors together so you don’t have to hunt for them. Prepare a written [...]

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Stress Less This Holiday: Gift-giving Part 1

November 21, 2009

“Gift giving is the inside-out feeling wrapped in a box.” ~Marcia Ramsland Many times as we approach the holiday gift-giving becomes more of a chore than a pleasure. Gif-giving is often identified by many as one of the biggest stresses in preparing for the holiday season. Just think about it…. you have to decide what [...]

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Your Six Week Holiday Plan for Stressing Less

November 14, 2009

Have you started your holiday planning? Have you been thinking about the holidays and thought you need to get a plan going? Or do you say what plan, why would I need a plan? Most of the holiday stress occurs in the last three weeks because most events happen during that timeframe. There are parties, [...]

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Ease Stress – Five Tips You can Use

October 3, 2009

Everyone is faced with daily stressors and as the holiday season approaches stress can become extreme when combined with daily pressures. You can handle stress- big and small-by following these tips: • Avoiding problems (stressors) can make them seem bigger than they are because you can start to imagine the worst case scenario. Many times [...]

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Power Over Stress

June 16, 2009

Although you can’t control some things that cause stress like losing your job or a parent’s illness, you can take steps to control the negative effect of stress on your body. Take charge of stress by:

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