Handle Your Stress When The Holidays Roll Around

When it's time for the holidays, it can sometimes difficult to handle your stress when there is so much to do.

I don't know about you, but I feel like my to to-do is always long. Add in some Christmas activities and I wonder how I'll get it all accomplished:

• Christmas crafts with the kids
• A visit to Santa
• Holiday concert (and new clothes are needed)
• Traveling
• Wrapping
• Town Square Christmas celebration
• Baking cookings
• Whew!!

Here are a few of my favorite tips that seem to make all the difference between a crabby mom and a joyful mom.

A few moments of goal setting.

You need to make sure that you get a list of the goals you want to meet onto some paper. This way, you have a list of what needs to be done, and you can track your progress by checking off what you have been getting done when you're ready to meet a goal. You'll be able to stick with your goals because it will be great when you are able to see how far you got with your goals. Make sure you take it one goal at a time, and break down bigger goals so you can easily meet different parts of that goal.

A few moments of enjoying a hobby.

I really enjoy beading bracelets and like to make myself one or two new ones before winter.

When you start to feel stress, you need to get a hobby that can take your mind off of things. For instance, if you like to read then you should always have a book nearby that you can open up and start reading when you feel your anxiety or stress coming up. This will allow you to distance yourself from the stress until you are able to deal with it. Don't take too many breaks, however, you do need to deal with your stress when you can so that you can get it done and over with.

A few moments of early shopping.

I've found even having a few gifts purchased before Thanksgiving can take the stress out of shopping.

Try getting your holiday shopping done well before the holidays hit. Only save some presents like new movies or games that are coming out for when they are released if they have a release date when the holidays are. If you are able to shop before the holidays hit, then you'll have a better chance at finding the things you need right away. If you take too long with this, then when you go out to shop you're going to be shopping with a lot of other people and that could stress you out quite a bit too.

I hope you'll take a little time this week to figure out what you can do to handle your stress when the holidays roll around.

Here are more resources to help you have a less-stressed holiday season.

The 'Ultimate' Christmas Planner | Simple Catholic Living
http://www.simplecatholicliving.com Thu, 24 Oct 2013 11:00:22 GMT
The 'Ultimate" Christmas Planner is a 96 page e-book to help you stay sane, organized and have fun during the Christmas Season.

Free Printable Thanksgiving and Christmas Planning Guide
http://myfrugaladventures.com Sun, 13 Oct 2013 22:19:19 GMT
So I know we have a few more months until Thanksgiving and Christmas but I wanted to post this free little Thanksgiving and Christmas planner for you. I was in Walgreens this weekend picking up some photos and noticed […]

Christmas Countdown: Your week-by-week guide to getting ...
http://www.largerfamilylife.com Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:51:20 GMT
Sort through your decorations. Try out the lights and get rid of any broken and damaged decorations. If you like to work to a theme or colour scheme each year plan yours now and order your new Christmas decorations in ...

Menu Plan Monday - Gluten Free Dairy Free Christmas Edition ...
http://onceamonthmeals.com Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:46 GMT
This week if full of easy meals leading up to our big family Christmas Eve dinner, with a few of my kiddos' favorite meals to celebrate having some time off.

Thanks for stopping by,
Suzanne

Advice About Mothering

Sometimes I wish there were a way to get more or better advice about mothering. And at other times, I just wish the strangers or acquaintances butting in would leave their opinions to themselves. Mothering is such a situational thing. No one can know it all. No one can be perfect doing it.

photo credit: cheetah100

Here's what I know, though. Mothering is an awesome profession and in reality pretty easy to do. There are only two things to remember; unlike having a job where there are tons of rules and potentially  multiple middle managers wanting to rule your time.

First, you'll work for God. He'll help you. Just ask. Ask for wisdom and ask for insight. Ask for clarity and focus. You'll find them. God wants you to succeed. He is for you. He wants your children to love him.

Second, you'll work with your husband. My husband is wise. He has good ideas and insights...if only I'd not fight them so much sometimes. Things are easier when you work together. Honor him and let his direction stand for your family. He can see if you are getting too stressed or trying to do too much. Ask him for help and ask him for input.

As for all those other 'butting in opinions', gracefully say that thank you and you'll take it under consideration and leave it at that. Really. Don't rant and carry on. Don't gossip about it. It really isn't worth it to your own health and plans to stress about it.

You are the mother and you really do know best.

Here are some really nice articles about mothering.  And just maybe, you'll take something under consideration.

The Best Advice I Never Asked For | Homemade Mothering
homemademothering.com

The Best Advice I Never Asked For | A Back to Basics Approach to Mothering and Homekeeping.

the joy of mothering: Kids First But Love them, Don't Spoil Them
motherofnine9.blogspot.com

One afternoon an acquaintance stopped by for a cup of tea with two pre-school children in tow. At first she was very nervous and jumping up at every disturbance she heard as the kids played. In an attempt to soothe her ...

Blessed Homemaking: Important Mothering Tip
www.blessedhomemaking.com

Important Mothering Tip. Mothers Lessons, Amalfi, 1857. Mothers Lessons,... If you want to see improvement in your children's behavior, there is a very important thing you must do, without fail. This is to keep your children with ...

What are your favorite mothering tips?

Stress Management Tips for Moms

It's been one of those weeks around here. Nothing feels like it is going right. I feel like I'm part of a commercial...


The kids are screaming.  The lunch is boiling over on the stove top.  The telephone is ringing.  The dog is barking and the TV is on with no one watching.  On top of all of this, you have to run errands yet today and pay the bills.
  
Ever happen to you?  I bet most moms have had things like this going on at the same time. 

 

photo credit: lululemon athletica

Stress gets out of control when we respond in an unfavorable way to the situations in our lives.  Ignoring stressful situations doesn’t help anything.  The stressful situations continue to pile up until we run out of the house screaming or the kids do.

• The first tip is to start the day with a plan of action.  No one can account for all unforeseen situations.  But if you have a plan, your day will at least have a fighting chance. 

Schedules are a mom’s best friend.  People scoff at lists, but they do help to organize thoughts and keep mom from adding too much to her plate.  If you have school age kids, they will need to be seen off in the morning.  Getting up an hour earlier than them leaves time to prepare lunches, fix breakfast, sign permission slips, lay out clothes, and whatever else needs to be done. Though you will be busy, you will be uninterrupted.

For moms with infants, getting up an hour earlier allows for preparation for baby’s awakening too.  Bottles can be fixed and the baby bag prepared if you plan on going out during the day.  Baby’s that wake for feedings on regular schedule also help mom.  Knowing when they will be likely to wake up gives you an idea of when to rise.

• The next tip is to spend some time in peace and quiet.  Fifteen minutes in the morning will put the day into perspective.  You can meditate, pray, or perform yoga.  Any of these activities and more will give the mind time not to think. 

This time can also be used to count your blessings.  Recount to yourself all of the things in your life that you are thankful for.  A positive attitude is a good way to start each morning.

Another tip to manage stress is to let it all out.  Most moms practice composure in all situations, but sometimes emotion is warranted.  Jamming your finger in the door or pinching it in the stroller when you are packing it in the car is painful.  Let out a yell.  Not only does that yell help to ease the pain, it stops negative feelings from welling up inside of you.  A good yell or scream is a way of releasing potential stress before it has a chance to sabotage your day.

Stress management tips are designed to equip moms to deal with the rigors of their day.  This includes working moms, stay at home moms, and moms that work from home.  Whatever your occupation, stress can creep in when you least expect it.  Get ahead of it and nip it in the bud.

photo credit: lululemon athletica

Here are more ideas moms can take to help reduce the stress they are feeling in their lives.

Stress Management for New Mothers: Making the Adjustment to ...
suite101.com

"Transitioning to motherhood is never easy, and new moms often feel overwhelmed. Here are ways to handle crying jags, reduce stress, and battle loneliness and boredom."

Stress Management for Moms at Dr. Michele Borba's Reality Check
www.micheleborba.com

"6 proven stress busters I shared on TODAY for the sake of our health and our kids' well-being. Let's face it, “Mommying” has always been stressful, so it should be no surprise that 70 percent of U.S. moms admit mothering is ..."

Top Time Management Tips For Moms - Stress Management - About ...
stress.about.com

"Being a busy mom myself, I understand and sympathize with the plight of busy moms everywhere. I've found that 'busy mom' is almost a redundant term, in that."

Stress Management Tips to Better Handle Your Stress | Mom Writes ...
momswritestuff.info

"Until you find that proverbial genie in a bottle, you feel you may never manage to successfully get rid of stress in."

What is your favorite stress reliever?