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A D V I C E A N D I N F O R M A T I O N : P A R E N T I N G A D V I C E
Less Stress and More Joy for the Holidays
During these times of economic stress and challenge for so many of us it is even more important that we can recognize and effectively manage our holiday stress so that we can still enjoy the holiday season. Here are a few tips that may help.
1) Be realistic about your expectations and your budget—know that while the ads promote holiday joy being correlated to many gifts, there is little joy in overspending your budget and being in debt all year. You can be generous with your time and your attention to loved ones without breaking the bank.
2) Review the past and prioritize so you don’t over schedule your time with too many activities. As a family you can choose a few things to do that are really meaningful and/or provide positive memories.
3) Remember to take good care of yourself by scheduling in healthy meals, enough sleep, and exercise.
4) Don’t expect perfection—settle for anything short of disaster especially if you have small children.
5) If possible, have your family do something nice for another family. Acts of kindness are good modeling for your kids and remind them what the holidays are all about.
6) Try to keep your daily routines and schedules as normal as possible. With all the excitement and sweets that accompany the holiday season, kids can easily become sleep deprived, worn-out and irritable.
7) Work on being less critical of yourself and family members—focus on the positives and encouraging one another.
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